Excellent
#308 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 12% in state
Cary Elementary
Elementary School · Wake County Schools
400 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511
Enrollment
440
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
440
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Cary
#5 of 32
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#279 of 1,474
In district
#29 of 194
Wake County Schools
Academic growth
8.3 / 10
Very strong
About Cary Elementary
Cary Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of the Wake County Schools. The school serves approximately 440 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 88.4th percentile among NC schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 63% proficiency in math, 4 points above the state average and 64% in reading/language arts, 11 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $104,072, where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Cary Elementary — Students at Cary Elementary score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
38.9%
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: 8.3/10.
How Cary Elementary Compares
See how Cary Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 49% (2019) to 69.3% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 55% (2019) to 67.2% (2025).
Location
400 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cary Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Kingswood Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 0.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Farmington Woods Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Reedy Creek Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Kingswood Elementary Cary | 0.8 mi | 8.6 |
| Briarcliff Elementary Cary | 0.9 mi | 6.0 |
| TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary | 0.9 mi | 7.6 |
| East Cary Middle Cary | 0.9 mi | 8.5 |
| Northwoods Elementary Cary | 1.0 mi | 7.8 |
| TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary | 1.1 mi | — |
| Cary High Cary | 1.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Adams Elementary Cary | 1.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Cardinal Charter Academy Cary | 1.4 mi | 5.8 |
| Farmington Woods Elementary Cary | 1.7 mi | 8.5 |
| West Cary Middle Cary | 1.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Weatherstone Elementary Cary | 1.9 mi | 6.1 |
| Reedy Creek Middle Cary | 2.3 mi | 6.8 |
| Reedy Creek Elementary Cary | 2.3 mi | 7.9 |
| SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary | 2.2 mi | 6.8 |
| CARY ACADEMY Cary | 2.7 mi | 6.5 |
| RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CARY Cary | 2.3 mi | — |
| ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cary | 2.3 mi | 6.1 |
| Connections Academy Cary | 2.4 mi | — |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Raleigh | 2.6 mi | 5.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 27511 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$104,072
Median Home Value
$416,600
Median Rent
$1,436/mo
Population
33,279
College Educated
57.8%
Homeownership
67.4%
Avg Commute
22.9 min
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Median Age
41.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Cary Elementary has a median household income of $104,072. It is a well-educated community where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $416,600, with a median rent of $1,436/month. The local poverty rate of 8.1% 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 |
|---|---|
| Banks Elementary Kinston, NC | 8.3 |
| Banoak Elementary Vale, NC | 8.3 |
| Bethesda Elementary Durham, NC | 8.3 |
| Ceasar Cone Elementary Greensboro, NC | 8.3 |
| Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elem Wilmington, NC | 8.3 |
| Grand Oak Elementary Huntersville, NC | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cary Elementary
What grades does Cary Elementary serve?
Cary Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cary Elementary?
Cary Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 440 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cary Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cary Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cary Elementary rank in NC?
Cary Elementary is ranked #308 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Cary Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cary Elementary has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Cary Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Cary Elementary has 62.9% math proficiency and 63.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Cary Elementary a charter school?
No, Cary Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cary Elementary a Title I school?
No, Cary Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cary Elementary?
38.9% of students at Cary 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
- 73 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 45 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 52 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
- 440
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 38.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Phone
- (919) 460-3455
- 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
- #29 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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.