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Average

#1973 of 2,648 schools in NC

Adams Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

805 Cary Towne Blvd, Cary, NC 27511

Enrollment

616

Student-Teacher

12.1:1

Score

5.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,973 of 2,648

In Cary

#31 of 32

public schools

In district

#163 of 194

Wake County Schools

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Adams Elementary

5.1/10

Elementary School in Cary · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

East Cary Middle

7.1/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Cary High

6.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Adams Elementary

Adams Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Adams Elementary serves approximately 616 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Adams Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,973 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Adams Elementary show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts below district
  • This school 5.1 · Average
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.6Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.52 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61.7% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-2.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.4 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-3.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile48th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism19%

Adams Elementary — Students at Adams Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

56.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 64.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 58.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
94%
ELA
85%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
83%
2011
Math
93%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2015
Math
69%
ELA
55%
2016
Math
61%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
48%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
48%
ELA
49%
2020*
Math
46%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
46%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
60.3%
ELA
53.7%
2025
Math
61.5%
ELA
50.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.6/10.

How Adams Elementary Compares

See how Adams Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.1/10
26th percentile in NC
Academic
6.4/10
Average
Growth
2.6/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
57%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
51 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

805 Cary Towne Blvd, Cary, NC 27511

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Adams Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Farmington Woods Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Northwoods Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY (rated 7.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
East Cary Middle Cary 0.3 mi 7.1
Cary High Cary 0.4 mi 6.9
TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary 1.0 mi 7.6
Cary Elementary Cary 1.1 mi 7.1
RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CARY Cary 1.2 mi
Farmington Woods Elementary Cary 1.5 mi 8.4
Connections Academy Cary 1.3 mi
Kingswood Elementary Cary 1.4 mi 7.0
TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary 1.4 mi
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Raleigh 1.5 mi 5.8
Briarcliff Elementary Cary 1.5 mi 6.2
Wake STEM Early College High School Cary 1.9 mi 7.6
Cardinal Charter Academy Cary 2.0 mi 7.0
Crossroads FLEX Cary 2.0 mi 7.8
SCORE Academy Cary 2.0 mi 4.3
Northwoods Elementary Cary 2.0 mi 7.8
Reedy Creek Elementary Cary 2.5 mi 5.8
Reedy Creek Middle Cary 2.5 mi 7.1
West Cary Middle Cary 2.5 mi 7.5
THE RALEIGH SCHOOL Raleigh 2.4 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27511 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$104,072

Median Home Value

$416,600

Median Rent

$1,436/mo

Population

33,279

College Educated

57.8%

Homeownership

67.4%

Avg Commute

22.9 min

Poverty Rate

8.1%

Median Age

41.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Cullowhee Valley School Cullowhee, NC 5.1
Edneyville Elementary Hendersonville, NC 5.1
Glenwood Elementary School Marion, NC 5.1
Griffith Elementary Winston-Salem, NC 5.1
Highland Elementary Burlington, NC 5.1
J. H. Gunn Elementary Charlotte, NC 5.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Adams Elementary

What grades does Adams Elementary serve?

Adams Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Adams Elementary?

Adams Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 616 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Adams Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Adams Elementary is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Adams Elementary rank in NC?

Adams Elementary ranks #1,973 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Adams Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Adams Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Adams Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Adams Elementary has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Adams Elementary a charter school?

No, Adams Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Adams Elementary a Title I school?

No, Adams Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Adams Elementary?

56.8% of students at Adams Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
66 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
31 Some Transit
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
616
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
51
Free/Reduced Lunch
56.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.0%

District

Wake County Schools
District Enrollment
161,481
Schools in District
197
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,691
District Rank
#163 of 194

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