Best Schools in Cary, North Carolina
45 schools · 26 Elementary · 7 Middle · 8 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Cary?
Use this page to compare every school in Cary by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Kingswood Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Reedy Creek Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Other · Triangle Math and Science Academy. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Cary for 2026 are Kingswood Elementary (8.6/10), Reedy Creek Elementary (8.3/10), and Triangle Math and Science Academy (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
45
33 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$503,560
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
45
33 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$503,560
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 62% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Cary schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Cary schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Cary
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 32 rated schools; 45 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingswood Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Reedy Creek Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Triangle Math and Science Academy | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Hortons Creek Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Turner Creek Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Mills Park Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | East Cary Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Green Level High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Davis Drive Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Northwoods Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $115,965
- Median home value
- $503,560
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 67%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
41% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Cary compares
North Carolina rank
#67 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$116k
171% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
39
Wake County Schools runs Cary's public schools
33 public schools. Wake County Schools is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Cary is a Wake County Schools school (31 of 33).
Among 32 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Cary, not a citywide average.
- Wake County Schools31 public · 94%
- Cardinal Charter1 public · 3%
- Triangle Math and Science Academy1 public · 3%
About Schools in Cary, North Carolina
Cary's public school landscape is substantial and consistently strong. The city has 32 ranked public schools, spanning elementary through high school, giving families a wide range of options within a single mid-sized suburban city. The average school score across all ranked schools is 6.8 out of 10 — a figure that sits comfortably above what most comparable suburban markets deliver. Eleven schools, or 34% of the total, score 7 or higher, meaning high-performing options are genuinely plentiful rather than concentrated in one corner of the city.
Elementary schools anchor Cary's strongest performers. Hortons Creek Elementary leads all 32 ranked schools with a score of 8.8 out of 10, the highest in the city. Kingswood Elementary follows at 8.6, and Farmington Woods Elementary and Cary Elementary round out a cluster of top-rated elementary campuses. At the middle school level, East Cary Middle scores 8.5 out of 10, matching Farmington Woods and signaling that academic quality doesn't drop off as students advance. Parents with children at multiple grade levels will find strong options across elementary and middle tiers without having to compromise.
Practically speaking, Cary's 6.8 average means even schools outside the top tier offer a solid baseline. Families who don't land in a top-10 feeder zone are unlikely to face a dramatic quality gap. That said, the gap between the city average and the top schools — nearly two full points — is real, so assignment zone matters for parents prioritizing the highest-rated campuses. Hortons Creek, Kingswood, and Farmington Woods are worth mapping against your home address early in the search process.
For parents relocating to the Raleigh-Durham metro, Cary is one of the more consistent bets in the region. The combination of 32 ranked schools, a strong average, and a deep bench of 7-plus scorers means competition for top-zone housing is real — but so is the payoff. Research school zones before committing to a neighborhood, and use specific school scores rather than district-level reputation to guide your comparisons.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 434 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 593 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 |
| 3 | 694 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 739 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 5 | 645 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 618 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 7 | 820 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 652 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 718 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 10 | 680 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Cary
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 623 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 997 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 1,628 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 805 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 5 | 1,532 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 891 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 17 students · 6th–8th | — |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,149 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 2,126 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 2,136 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 4 | 2,561 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 5 | 146 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 6 | 282 students · 9th–UG | 6.4 | ||
| 7 | 581 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cary AcademyPrivate 789 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,341 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.0 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cary Christian SchoolPrivate 844 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Mariposa SchoolPrivate 14 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 19 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Cary
Cary, North Carolina · 45 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$115,965
Median Home Value
$503,560
Median Rent
$1,537/mo
Population
213,422
College Educated
67%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Community Profile
Cary has a median household income of $115,965. It is a well-educated community where 67% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $503,560, with a median rent of $1,537/month. The local poverty rate of 8.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 8
- Other
- 4
Resources
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Cary, North Carolina
How many schools are in Cary, North Carolina?
Cary has 45 schools, including 33 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Cary, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cary is 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Cary, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Cary on MySchoolScout is Kingswood Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Cary, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Cary on MySchoolScout is Kingswood Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Cary, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Cary on MySchoolScout is East Cary Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Cary, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Cary on MySchoolScout is Green Level High with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Cary, North Carolina?
Cary is served by 3 school districts: Triangle Math and Science Academy, Cardinal Charter, Wake County Schools.
What is the education level in Cary, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 67% of adults in Cary have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Cary, North Carolina?
The median household income in Cary is approximately $115,965 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Cary, North Carolina?
Yes, Cary has 12 private schools alongside 33 public schools. The top-rated private school is Triangle Montessori Academy with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cary, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cary is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cary, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.