Very Good
#810 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 31% in state
Carpenter Elementary
Elementary School · Wake County Schools
2100 Morrisville Parkway, Cary, NC 27519
Enrollment
680
Student-Teacher
14.8:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
680
Student-Teacher
14.8:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Cary
#9 of 32
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#667 of 1,474
In district
#77 of 194
Wake County Schools
Academic performance
8.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Carpenter Elementary
Carpenter Elementary serves 680 students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Cary, North Carolina, maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1 with 46 full-time equivalent teachers. The school earns strong marks with a 7.7 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks #478 out of 2,661 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 82nd percentile. Academically, Carpenter Elementary demonstrates solid performance with 69% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and Reading, while 75% meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics.
These results contribute to the school's impressive 8.5 out of 10 academic score, reflecting consistent achievement across grade levels. The school draws families from an affluent and highly educated community where 78% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding neighborhood has a median household income of $154,632 and median home values of $564,600, with only a 4.6% poverty rate among the 66,046 residents in the 27519 zip code area.
Located at 2100 Morrisville Parkway, Carpenter Elementary sits in the heart of Cary's thriving mid-size city environment, serving families in one of North Carolina's most prosperous and education-focused communities.
Score Breakdown
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Carpenter Elementary — Students at Carpenter Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
31.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 12 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: 7.0/10.
How Carpenter Elementary Compares
See how Carpenter Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 61% (2019) to 75.2% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 63% (2019) to 68.9% (2025).
Location
2100 Morrisville Parkway, Cary, NC 27519
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Carpenter Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hortons Creek Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY (rated 7.9/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Turner Creek Elementary (rated 7.1/10, 2.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Green Hope High Cary | 0.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Green Hope Elementary Cary | 0.9 mi | 6.5 |
| Morrisville Elementary Morrisville | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER LLC Morrisville | 1.3 mi | — |
| Highcroft Elementary Cary | 1.4 mi | 6.9 |
| PRIMROSE SCHOOLS AT THE PARK Morrisville | 1.7 mi | — |
| Panther Creek High Cary | 1.7 mi | 5.7 |
| Parkside Elementary Morrisville | 2.0 mi | 6.6 |
| Mills Park Middle Cary | 1.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Mills Park Elementary Cary | 1.7 mi | 7.0 |
| KNOWLEDGE BEGINNINGS SCHOOL Cary | 2.1 mi | — |
| Sterling Montessori Academy Morrisville | 2.1 mi | 4.4 |
| Cedar Fork Elementary Morrisville | 2.2 mi | 6.0 |
| Davis Drive Elementary Cary | 2.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Davis Drive Middle Cary | 2.7 mi | 6.6 |
| CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY Cary | 2.7 mi | 7.9 |
| Turner Creek Elementary Cary | 2.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Wake EC of Information & Biotechnologies Morrisville | 3.1 mi | — |
| Hortons Creek Elementary Cary | 2.9 mi | 8.8 |
| SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary | 3.1 mi | 6.8 |
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 Carpenter Elementary 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 |
|---|---|
| A.C.E. Academy Harrisburg, NC | 7.4 |
| Blowing Rock Elementary Blowing Rock, NC | 7.4 |
| Blythe Elementary Huntersville, NC | 7.4 |
| Brogden Primary Dudley, NC | 7.4 |
| Eastern Elementary Washington, NC | 7.4 |
| Elizabeth Elementary Shelby, NC | 7.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carpenter Elementary
What grades does Carpenter Elementary serve?
Carpenter Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Carpenter Elementary?
Carpenter Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 680 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carpenter Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Carpenter Elementary is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Carpenter Elementary rank in NC?
Carpenter Elementary is ranked #810 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Carpenter Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Carpenter Elementary has a composite rating of 7.4 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 Carpenter Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Carpenter Elementary has 70.0% math proficiency and 66.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Carpenter Elementary a charter school?
No, Carpenter Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Carpenter Elementary a Title I school?
No, Carpenter Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carpenter Elementary?
31.8% of students at Carpenter 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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 10 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 0 Minimal Transit
- Bike Score
- 37 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 680
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 31.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Phone
- (919) 462-6780
- 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
- #77 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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