Public School Review - Established 2003

Cary High School vs. Apex High School

Should you attend Cary High School or Apex High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Cary High School
638 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Apex High School
1501 Laura Duncan Road
Apex, NC 27502
: 
10/
10
Top 10%
Top Rankings

Cary High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 20%)

Apex High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 2,145 students in grades 9-12, Cary High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 66% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Serving 2,500 students in grades 9-12, Apex High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 72% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 78% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
2,145 students
2,500 students
This chart displays total students of Cary High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Apex High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
50% | 50%
This chart displays gender of Cary High School
This chart displays gender of Apex High School
Total Classroom Teachers
122 teachers
128 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Cary High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Apex High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
20:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Cary High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Apex High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#511 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Top 20%)
#243 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Top 10%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Cary High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Apex High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65%
(Top 30% in NC)
72%
(Top 20% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Apex High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
66%
(Top 20% in NC)
78%
(Top 10% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Apex High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
51%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Apex High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
84%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
93%
(Top 20% in NC)
This chart displays graduation rate of Cary High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Apex High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Cary High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Apex High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
615
617
Grade 10 Students
567
618
Grade 11 Students
520
641
Grade 12 Students
443
624

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Cary High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
n/a
% Asian
5%
12%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Cary High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Apex High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
29%
15%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Cary High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Apex High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
18%
10%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Cary High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Apex High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
43%
58%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Cary High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Apex High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Apex High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.70
0.62
This chart displays the diversity score of Cary High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Apex High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
19%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Apex High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Apex High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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