Excellent
#342 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 13% in state
Alston Ridge Middle
Middle School · Wake County Schools · Cary, NC
A Wake County Schools middle school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
7833 Fussell Avenue, Cary, NC 27519
- Math 81% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Alston Ridge Middle score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 71%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 6 points since 2020, reaching 79% in 2025, across a 6-year record (2020–2025).
Show all 4 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 77% (multi-year average, 2020-2025) · reading/ELA 77% (multi-year average, 2020-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 14 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
20.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Alston Ridge Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,393/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cary), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$159,414
Median home value
$614,100
Median rent
$1,854/mo
College educated
78.2%
Homeownership
69.1%
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27519; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills Park MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.6 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 1,628 | Compare → |
| Lowe's Grove MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 6–8 | 3.5 mi | 624 | Compare → |
| North Carolina Cyber AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.6 | K–12 | 4.0 mi | 2,523 | Compare → |
| Nc Virtual AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.7 | K–12 | 4.1 mi | 2,959 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Wake County Schools
- Schools in district
- 197
- Rank in district
- #48 of 194
- District spending per student
- $11,691NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Alston Ridge Middle is listed in Wake County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Alston Ridge Middle
Alston Ridge Middle is a public middle school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools, serving approximately 1,532 students in grades 6th-8th with a 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #342 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
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 ranks #342 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Alston Ridge Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Alston Ridge Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Alston Ridge Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Alston Ridge Middle has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,532
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 81
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.0%
- Phone
- (919) 694-8044
- Area population (ZIP 27519)
- 67,976
- Area average commute
- 22.3 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27519; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2020-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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