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Very Good

#944 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 36% in state

Cary Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

400 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511

Enrollment

440

Student-Teacher

13.3:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#944 of 2,648

In Cary

#20 of 32

public schools

In district

#104 of 194

Wake County Schools

School environment

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Cary Elementary

7.1/10

Elementary School in Cary · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Kingswood Elementary

7.0/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Briarcliff Elementary

6.2/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Cary Elementary

Cary Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Cary Elementary serves approximately 440 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Cary Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #944 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Cary Elementary show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.1 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.2% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+5.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.6 pts
Overall Proficiency68% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)65% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+3.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism14.8%

Cary Elementary — Students at Cary Elementary score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

38.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 68.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 64.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
86%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
68%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
58%
2015
Math
69%
ELA
62%
2016
Math
68%
ELA
58%
2017
Math
66%
ELA
56%
2018
Math
49%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
49%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
51%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
51%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
63.7%
ELA
63.7%
2025
Math
69.3%
ELA
67.3%

* 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: 5.7/10.

How Cary Elementary Compares

See how Cary Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.1/10
64th percentile in NC
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
39%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. Farmington Woods Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Weatherstone Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Northwoods Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. 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 7.0
Briarcliff Elementary Cary 0.9 mi 6.2
TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary 0.9 mi 7.6
East Cary Middle Cary 0.9 mi 7.1
Northwoods Elementary Cary 1.0 mi 7.8
TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary 1.1 mi
Cary High Cary 1.1 mi 6.9
Adams Elementary Cary 1.1 mi 5.1
Cardinal Charter Academy Cary 1.4 mi 7.0
Farmington Woods Elementary Cary 1.7 mi 8.4
West Cary Middle Cary 1.6 mi 7.5
Weatherstone Elementary Cary 1.9 mi 7.9
Reedy Creek Middle Cary 2.3 mi 7.1
Reedy Creek Elementary Cary 2.3 mi 5.8
SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary 2.2 mi 6.8
CARY ACADEMY Cary 2.7 mi 6.6
RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CARY Cary 2.3 mi
ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cary 2.3 mi 6.2
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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Atkinson Elementary Hendersonville, NC 7.1
Diggs-Latham Elementary Winston-Salem, NC 7.1
Hemby Bridge Elementary Indian Trail, NC 7.1
Hobbton Elementary Newton Grove, NC 7.1
Langdon C Kerr Elementary Clinton, NC 7.1
Murphy Elementary Murphy, NC 7.1

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 ranks #944 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Cary Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Cary Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Cary Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cary Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
73 Very Walkable
Transit Score
45 Some Transit
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.8%

District

Wake County Schools
District Enrollment
161,481
Schools in District
197
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,691
District Rank
#104 of 194

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