Average
#1331 of 2,648 schools in NC
Alston Ridge Middle
Middle School · Wake County Schools
7833 Fussell Avenue, Cary, NC 27519
Enrollment
1,532
Student-Teacher
18.9:1
Score
6.5
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,532
Student-Teacher
18.9:1
Score
6.5
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Cary
#20 of 32
public schools
North Carolina middle schools
#179 of 475
In district
#123 of 194
Wake County Schools
Academic performance
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Alston Ridge Middle
Alston Ridge Middle serves 1,532 students in grades 6-8 in Cary, North Carolina, earning recognition as one of the higher-performing middle schools in Wake County. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.9:1 across 81 full-time teachers, the school demonstrates strong academic achievement with 81% of students reaching proficiency or above in math and 76% in English language arts. These impressive results contribute to the school's 9.1 out of 10 academic score and ranking in the 79th percentile statewide, placing it at #563 among North Carolina's 2,661 schools.
The school benefits from its location in an affluent, highly educated community where 78% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. This supportive environment, with a median household income of $154,632 and low poverty rate of 4.6%, creates favorable conditions for student learning and family engagement in education. The surrounding neighborhood reflects Cary's reputation as a desirable suburban community with substantial investment in education.
Alston Ridge Middle sits at 7833 Fussell Avenue in this thriving mid-size city, serving families who value academic excellence and community involvement in their children's educational journey.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Alston Ridge Middle — Students at Alston Ridge Middle score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
20.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.3/10.
How Alston Ridge Middle Compares
See how Alston Ridge Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 68% (2021) to 81% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 77% (2021) to 76.2% (2025).
Location
7833 Fussell Avenue, Cary, NC 27519
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Alston Ridge Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Mills Park Middle (rated 6.8/10, 3.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Lowe's Grove Middle (rated 4.1/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Durham), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Alston Ridge Elementary Cary | 0.4 mi | 6.4 |
| Hortons Creek Elementary Cary | 0.9 mi | 8.8 |
| Lyons Farm Elementary Durham | 1.7 mi | 8.6 |
| Panther Creek High Cary | 1.9 mi | 5.7 |
| Parkwood Elementary Durham | 2.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Mills Park Middle Cary | 3.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Parkside Elementary Morrisville | 2.6 mi | 6.6 |
| Mills Park Elementary Cary | 3.1 mi | 7.0 |
| Kestrel Heights School Durham | 3.1 mi | 6.8 |
| PRIMROSE SCHOOLS AT THE PARK Morrisville | 2.7 mi | — |
| Research Triangle High School Research Triangle Pk | 3.2 mi | 6.1 |
| Lowe's Grove Middle Durham | 3.5 mi | 4.1 |
| SOUTHPOINT ACADEMY Durham | 3.3 mi | 4.9 |
| Carpenter Elementary Cary | 3.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Highcroft Elementary Cary | 3.9 mi | 6.9 |
| North Carolina Cyber Academy Durham | 4.0 mi | 3.9 |
| NC Virtual Academy Durham | 4.1 mi | 3.3 |
| Green Hope High Cary | 4.0 mi | 6.2 |
| Wake EC of Information & Biotechnologies Morrisville | 3.6 mi | — |
| DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER LLC Morrisville | 3.9 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 27519 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$159,414
Median Home Value
$614,100
Median Rent
$1,854/mo
Population
67,976
College Educated
78.2%
Homeownership
69.1%
Avg Commute
22.3 min
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Median Age
38.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Alston Ridge Middle has a median household income of $159,414. It is a well-educated community where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $614,100, with a median rent of $1,854/month. The local poverty rate of 4.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Herbert Akins Road Middle Fuquay-Varina, NC | 6.5 |
| Heritage Middle Wake Forest, NC | 6.5 |
| Jamestown Middle Jamestown, NC | 6.5 |
| Cleveland Middle Garner, NC | 6.6 |
| Davis Drive Middle Cary, NC | 6.6 |
| Dillard Drive Middle Raleigh, NC | 6.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Alston Ridge Middle
What grades does Alston Ridge Middle serve?
Alston Ridge Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Alston Ridge Middle?
Alston Ridge Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,532 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alston Ridge Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Alston Ridge Middle is 18.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Alston Ridge Middle rank in NC?
Alston Ridge Middle is ranked #1331 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Alston Ridge Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Alston Ridge Middle has a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Alston Ridge Middle?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Alston Ridge Middle has 78.5% math proficiency and 76.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Alston Ridge Middle a charter school?
No, Alston Ridge Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Alston Ridge Middle a Title I school?
No, Alston Ridge Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alston Ridge Middle?
20.2% of students at Alston Ridge Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 4 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 0 Minimal Transit
- Bike Score
- 26 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- Elevated (1,393/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Cary). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,532
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 81
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 20.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Phone
- (919) 694-8044
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Wake County Schools- District Enrollment
- 161,481
- Schools in District
- 197
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,691
- District Rank
- #123 of 194
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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