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Average

#184 of 404 private schools in NC

Top 45% of private schools

Cary Academy

High School

1500 N HARRISON AVE, Cary, NC 27513

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 32 schools in Cary. Learn more

Enrollment

784

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

6.5

Grades

6th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Cary

#4 of 6

public schools

North Carolina high schools

#17 of 33

Academic performance

8.3 / 10

Very strong

About Cary Academy

Cary Academy serves 784 students in grades 6-12 in Cary, North Carolina, offering a comprehensive educational experience with an impressive 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. This regular public school benefits from 89 full-time equivalent teachers, providing students with significant individual attention and support throughout their middle and high school years. The school receives a strong MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10, though it ranks #278 out of 404 schools statewide, placing it in the 31st percentile among North Carolina schools.

This suggests the school is focusing on student development and has opportunities for continued academic growth. Located at 1500 N Harrison Ave, Cary Academy sits in the heart of an affluent and highly educated community. The surrounding 27513 ZIP code reflects a prosperous area with a median household income of $116,669 and median home values of $432,500.

The neighborhood's commitment to education is evident, with 68% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of just 4.9%. The school operates in Cary's mid-size city environment, where nearly 50,000 residents enjoy the benefits of a well-established suburban community that values educational excellence and family-oriented living.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1, Cary Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Cary Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$36,284
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$36,937
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.02x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
85%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$90.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 784 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Cary Academy compares to 16 public schools serving similar grades in Cary, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
This School
vs
18:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
784
This School
vs
1,158
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.5
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 45.5% vs 0%
Asian 31.2% vs 0%
Black 9.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.7% vs 0%
Cary Academy Cary Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
Cary Academy (this school) 6.5
Reedy Creek Middle 6.8
Cardinal Charter Academy 5.8
West Cary Middle 6.9
East Cary Middle 8.5
Cary High 5.5
Connections Academy
Wake STEM Early College High School 5.9
Crossroads FLEX 8.0
SCORE Academy 4.0
Davis Drive Middle 6.6
Green Hope High 6.2
Triangle Math and Science Academy 6.3
Panther Creek High 5.7
Mills Park Middle 6.8
Alston Ridge Middle 6.5
Green Level High 6.3

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 6.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 3.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,103.6
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 68%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 784
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 45.5%
Asian 31.2%
Two or More 10.1%
Black 9.4%
Hispanic 3.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1500 N HARRISON AVE, Cary, NC 27513

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cary Academy may also want to explore other high schools in the area. ACCELERATOR SCHOOL LLC (rated 6.7/10, 3.1 miles away, in nearby Morrisville), with a very similar rating. Another option is CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.0/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Raleigh), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Cary High (rated 5.5/10, 3.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Reedy Creek Middle Cary 0.5 mi 6.8
Reedy Creek Elementary Cary 0.6 mi 7.9
Cardinal Charter Academy Cary 1.4 mi 5.8
LUCY DANIELS SCHOOL Cary 1.6 mi
Kingswood Elementary Cary 1.9 mi 8.6
TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary 2.0 mi 7.6
West Cary Middle Cary 1.8 mi 6.9
Northwoods Elementary Cary 2.0 mi 7.8
Cary Elementary Cary 2.7 mi 8.3
East Cary Middle Cary 2.8 mi 8.5
Adams Elementary Cary 3.0 mi 6.7
CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL Raleigh 2.6 mi 6.0
Cary High Cary 3.3 mi 5.5
Weatherstone Elementary Cary 3.0 mi 6.1
THE RALEIGH SCHOOL Raleigh 3.0 mi 6.8
ACCELERATOR SCHOOL LLC Morrisville 3.1 mi 6.7
Briarcliff Elementary Cary 3.6 mi 6.0
SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary 3.3 mi 6.8
TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary 3.8 mi
RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CARY Cary 3.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27513 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$119,458

Median Home Value

$468,300

Median Rent

$1,491/mo

Population

47,444

College Educated

67.9%

Homeownership

63.2%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

40.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Cary Academy has a median household income of $119,458. It is a well-educated community where 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $468,300, with a median rent of $1,491/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 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
Carrboro High Carrboro, NC 6.4
East Carteret High Beaufort, NC 6.6
East Lincoln High Denver, NC 6.6
Manteo High School Manteo, NC 6.4
Robert L. Patton High School Morganton, NC 6.4
Brevard High Brevard, NC 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cary Academy

What grades does Cary Academy serve?

Cary Academy serves students in grades 6th through 12th.

How many students attend Cary Academy?

Cary Academy has an enrollment of approximately 784 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cary Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Cary Academy is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Cary Academy rank in NC?

Cary Academy is ranked #184 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Cary Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Cary Academy 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.

Is Cary Academy a private school?

Yes, Cary Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Cary Academy a religious school?

No, Cary Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (1,393/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Cary). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
6th – 12th
Enrollment
784
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
89
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.2 hours
Days Per Year
178 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
WAKE
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

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