Excellent
#192 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 7% in state
Mills Park Middle
Middle School · Wake County Schools · Cary, NC
A Wake County Schools middle school where students score 18 points above what's typical for similar communities.
441 Mills Park Drive, Cary, NC 27519
- Math 94% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 91% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mills Park Middle score 93% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 75%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2010–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 93% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 86% (multi-year average, 2010-2025) · reading/ELA 84% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
6.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Mills Park Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 19Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,393/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cary), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$159,414
Median home value
$614,100
Median rent
$1,854/mo
College educated
78.2%
Homeownership
69.1%
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27519; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alston Ridge MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 1,532 | Compare → |
| Davis Drive MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | 6–8 | 3.5 mi | 997 | Compare → |
| Salem MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 6–8 | 4.6 mi | 1,042 | Compare → |
| Scholars Academy Gifted and Artistically ElitePrivate · tuition | 6.8private | 1–12 | 4.6 mi | 35 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Wake County Schools
- Schools in district
- 197
- Rank in district
- #34 of 194
- District spending per student
- $11,691NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mills Park Middle is listed in Wake County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mills Park Middle
Mills Park Middle is a public middle school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools, serving approximately 1,628 students in grades 6th-8th with a 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #192 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mills Park Middle
What grades does Mills Park Middle serve?
Mills Park Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Mills Park Middle?
Mills Park Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,628 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Middle is 18.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mills Park Middle rank in NC?
Mills Park Middle ranks #192 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Mills Park Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Mills Park Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mills Park Middle has 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Is Mills Park Middle a charter school?
No, Mills Park Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mills Park Middle a Title I school?
No, Mills Park Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mills Park Middle?
6.9% of students at Mills Park Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,628
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 88
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 7.7%
- Phone
- (919) 466-1500
- Area population (ZIP 27519)
- 67,976
- Area average commute
- 22.3 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27519; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2010-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related 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.