Limited Profile
Not enough data to generate a rating
Connections Academy
Middle School · Wake County Schools
1280 Buck Jones Rd, Cary, NC 27606
Enrollment
17
Student-Teacher
1.4:1
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
17
Student-Teacher
1.4:1
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
Academic performance
8.3 / 10
Very strong
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a public middle school in Cary, NC, part of the Wake County Schools. The school serves approximately 17 students in grades 6th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 1.4:1. Students demonstrate 10% proficiency in math, 43 points below the state average and 12% in reading/language arts, 41 points below the state average.
Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $75,640, where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The school is situated in a midsize city setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 17 students, Connections Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 1.4:1, Connections 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.
School Profile
Limited Data- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 17 students
- Type
- Public
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 1.4:1
- Address
- 1280 Buck Jones Rd, Cary, NC 27606
- Phone
- (919) 694-8910
- Data Year
- SY 2022-23
Why doesn't this school have a score?
We don't have enough verified data to rate this school fairly. This can happen when a school is very new, very small, or has limited test score reporting to the state.
Our rating model requires at least 2 of 3 data components (academics, student progress, college readiness, and resources) to generate a meaningful score. Schools below this threshold receive a Limited Profile to avoid misleading ratings.
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: N/A.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 2.5% (2019) to 6.3% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 7.5% (2019) to 8.5% (2025).
Location
1280 Buck Jones Rd, Cary, NC 27606
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Connections Academy may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. East Cary Middle (rated 8.5/10, 1.6 miles away). Additionally, Dillard Drive Middle (rated 6.4/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Raleigh). For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CARY Cary | 0.1 mi | — |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Raleigh | 0.5 mi | 5.8 |
| Wake STEM Early College High School Cary | 0.8 mi | 5.9 |
| Crossroads FLEX Cary | 0.8 mi | 8.0 |
| SCORE Academy Cary | 0.8 mi | 4.0 |
| Dillard Drive Middle Raleigh | 1.4 mi | 6.4 |
| Adams Elementary Cary | 1.3 mi | 6.7 |
| Swift Creek Elementary Raleigh | 1.6 mi | 8.7 |
| LEARN WITH THE BEST SCHOOL, INC. Raleigh | 1.4 mi | 6.1 |
| Dillard Drive Elementary Raleigh | 1.4 mi | 5.8 |
| Cary High Cary | 1.4 mi | 5.5 |
| ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF RALEIGH Raleigh | 1.6 mi | 6.0 |
| East Cary Middle Cary | 1.6 mi | 8.5 |
| CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER Raleigh | 1.8 mi | — |
| Athens Drive High Raleigh | 1.7 mi | 5.4 |
| Yates Mill Elementary Raleigh | 2.1 mi | 5.8 |
| Mount Vernon Raleigh | 2.1 mi | 5.1 |
| THE RALEIGH SCHOOL Raleigh | 2.2 mi | 6.8 |
| Farmington Woods Elementary Cary | 1.9 mi | 8.5 |
| TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary | 2.2 mi | 7.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 27606 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$75,640
Median Home Value
$423,900
Median Rent
$1,369/mo
Population
45,728
College Educated
58.5%
Homeownership
37.1%
Avg Commute
22.3 min
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Median Age
30.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Connections Academy has a median household income of $75,640. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $423,900, with a median rent of $1,369/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.1%. 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 |
|---|---|
| CORNERSTONE ADVENTIST ACADEMY Charlotte, NC | — |
| Howard Learning Academy Fayetteville, NC | — |
| INNOVATIVE ACADEMY Wilmington, NC | — |
| LAKE HOUSE ACADEMY Flat Rock, NC | — |
| THE HALTON SCHOOL Huntersville, NC | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Connections Academy
What grades does Connections Academy serve?
Connections Academy serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Connections Academy?
Connections Academy has an enrollment of approximately 17 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Connections Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Connections Academy is 1.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
What are the test scores at Connections Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Connections Academy has 10.0% math proficiency and 12.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Connections Academy a charter school?
No, Connections Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Connections Academy a Title I school?
No, Connections Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Connections Academy?
82.4% of students at Connections 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.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Elevated (1,393/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Cary). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 17
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 1.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 82.4%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Phone
- (919) 694-8910
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Wake County Schools- District Enrollment
- 161,481
- Schools in District
- 197
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,691
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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