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Excellent

#57 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 2% in state

Mills Park Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

509 Mills Park Dr, Cary, NC 27519

Enrollment

645

Student-Teacher

14:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#57 of 2,648

In Cary

#2 of 32

public schools

In district

#11 of 194

Wake County Schools

Academic performance

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Mills Park Elementary

9.1/10

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

Mills Park Middle

8.6/10

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

Highcroft Elementary

9.0/10

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

About Mills Park Elementary

Mills Park Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Mills Park Elementary serves approximately 645 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Mills Park Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #57 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Mills Park Elementary show 88% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts above district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency91.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency84.7% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+27.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+38.1 pts
Overall Proficiency88% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)73% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+15.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism11.5%

Mills Park Elementary — Students at Mills Park Elementary score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

13.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 88.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 84.8% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
95%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
96%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
97%
ELA
94%
2012
Math
85%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
85%
ELA
79%
2015
Math
86%
ELA
82%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
84%
2017
Math
88%
ELA
83%
2018
Math
81%
ELA
83%
2019
Math
81%
ELA
83%
2020*
Math
85%
ELA
84%
2021*
Math
85%
ELA
84%
2022
Math
88.7%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
91.1%
ELA
84.7%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How Mills Park Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in NC
Academic
9.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
14%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
46 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.5%

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

509 Mills Park Dr, Cary, NC 27519

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mills Park Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hortons Creek Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Highcroft Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Green Hope Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Mills Park Middle Cary 0.1 mi 8.6
Highcroft Elementary Cary 1.0 mi 9.0
Panther Creek High Cary 1.4 mi 7.8
Green Hope High Cary 1.7 mi 8.0
Carpenter Elementary Cary 1.7 mi 7.7
Hortons Creek Elementary Cary 2.2 mi 9.4
Green Hope Elementary Cary 2.1 mi 9.0
Green Level High Cary 2.7 mi 6.8
White Oak Elementary Apex 2.5 mi 9.0
Turner Creek Elementary Cary 2.9 mi 6.9
Alston Ridge Middle Cary 3.1 mi 8.2
PRIMROSE SCHOOLS AT THE PARK Morrisville 2.8 mi
Parkside Elementary Morrisville 3.0 mi 8.8
Alston Ridge Elementary Cary 3.4 mi 7.7
Morrisville Elementary Morrisville 2.8 mi 8.0
DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER LLC Morrisville 2.9 mi
KNOWLEDGE BEGINNINGS SCHOOL Cary 3.1 mi
Davis Drive Elementary Cary 3.3 mi 8.9
Davis Drive Middle Cary 3.4 mi 8.7
Cedar Fork Elementary Morrisville 3.7 mi 7.8

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Apex Friendship Elementary Apex, NC 9.1
Bryan Road Elementary Garner, NC 9.1
Envision Science Academy Wake Forest, NC 9.1
Porters Neck Elementary Wilmington, NC 9.1
Southwest Elementary Clemmons, NC 9.1
Wesley Chapel Elementary Monroe, NC 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mills Park Elementary

What grades does Mills Park Elementary serve?

Mills Park Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Mills Park Elementary?

Mills Park Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 645 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Elementary is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mills Park Elementary rank in NC?

Mills Park Elementary ranks #57 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Mills Park Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Mills Park Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Mills Park Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mills Park Elementary has 88% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Mills Park Elementary a charter school?

No, Mills Park Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mills Park Elementary a Title I school?

No, Mills Park Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mills Park Elementary?

13.5% of students at Mills Park 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
23 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
15 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
645
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Free/Reduced Lunch
13.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.5%

District

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

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