Very Good
#961 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 36% in state
Cardinal Charter Academy
Elementary School · Cardinal Charter · Cary, NC
A charter elementary school in Cary, NC serving grades Kindergarten – 8th.
1020 St. Charles Place, Cary, NC 27513
- Math 68% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 66% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 25.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cardinal Charter Academy score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 12-year record (2014–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2014-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 32 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
41.1%
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 Cardinal Charter Academy 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 69Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 29Some Transit
- Bike 45Somewhat 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
$119,458
Median home value
$468,300
Median rent
$1,491/mo
College educated
67.9%
Homeownership
63.2%
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27513; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingswood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 434 | Compare → |
| Northwoods ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 618 | Compare → |
| Triangle Montessori AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–4 | 1.0 mi | 79 | Compare → |
| Reedy Creek ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 593 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Cardinal Charter
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $8,801NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Cardinal Charter Academy is listed in Cardinal Charter; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cardinal Charter Academy
Cardinal Charter Academy is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of Cardinal Charter, serving approximately 720 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 25.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #961 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cardinal Charter Academy
What grades does Cardinal Charter Academy serve?
Cardinal Charter Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Cardinal Charter Academy?
Cardinal Charter Academy has an enrollment of approximately 720 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Charter Academy is 25.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cardinal Charter Academy rank in NC?
Cardinal Charter Academy ranks #961 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Cardinal Charter Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Cardinal Charter Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Cardinal Charter Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cardinal Charter Academy has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Is Cardinal Charter Academy a charter school?
Yes, Cardinal Charter Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Cardinal Charter Academy a Title I school?
No, Cardinal Charter Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cardinal Charter Academy?
41.1% of students at Cardinal Charter Academy 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
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 720
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 25.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.2%
- Phone
- (919) 653-5000
- Area population (ZIP 27513)
- 47,444
- Area average commute
- 23 min
- Area median age
- 40.8
Official sources & links
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 27513; 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, 2014-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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