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Excellent

#192 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 7% in state

Mills Park Middle

Middle School · Wake County Schools

441 Mills Park Drive, Cary, NC 27519

Enrollment

1,628

Student-Teacher

18.5:1

Score

8.6

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#192 of 2,648

In Cary

#7 of 32

public schools

In district

#34 of 194

Wake County Schools

Academic performance

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Mills Park Middle

8.6/10

Middle School in Cary · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mills Park Elementary

9.1/10

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

Highcroft Elementary

9.0/10

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

About Mills Park Middle

Mills Park Middle is a public middle school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Mills Park Middle serves approximately 1,628 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Mills Park Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #192 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Mills Park Middle show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts above district
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.6
  • NC avg 5.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change+0.55 pts/yr
Data Period2010–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency95.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency91% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+38 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+38.8 pts
Overall Proficiency93% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)75% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+18.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment6.0Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism7.7%

Mills Park Middle — Students at Mills Park Middle score 93% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 75%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

6.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 85.9% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
School
State
53.9% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 84.1% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 NC)

Based on 34 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2010
Math
93%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
76%
2015
Math
79%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
84%
ELA
79%
2017
Math
87%
ELA
81%
2018
Math
83%
ELA
84%
2019
Math
83%
ELA
84%
2020*
Math
83%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
83%
ELA
87%
2022
Math
90.3%
ELA
87.7%
2025
Math
94.2%
ELA
91%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Mills Park Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
8.6/10
93th percentile in NC
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
6.0/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
7%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
88 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.7%

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

441 Mills Park Drive, Cary, NC 27519

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mills Park Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Davis Drive Middle (rated 8.7/10, 3.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Alston Ridge Middle (rated 8.2/10, 3.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Mills Park Elementary Cary 0.1 mi 9.1
Highcroft Elementary Cary 1.1 mi 9.0
Panther Creek High Cary 1.3 mi 7.8
Carpenter Elementary Cary 1.7 mi 7.7
Green Hope High Cary 1.7 mi 8.0
Hortons Creek Elementary Cary 2.1 mi 9.4
Green Hope Elementary Cary 2.1 mi 9.0
Green Level High Cary 2.8 mi 6.8
White Oak Elementary Apex 2.6 mi 9.0
Alston Ridge Middle Cary 3.0 mi 8.2
PRIMROSE SCHOOLS AT THE PARK Morrisville 2.7 mi
Turner Creek Elementary Cary 3.0 mi 6.9
Parkside Elementary Morrisville 2.9 mi 8.8
Alston Ridge Elementary Cary 3.2 mi 7.7
Morrisville Elementary Morrisville 2.8 mi 8.0
DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER LLC Morrisville 2.9 mi
KNOWLEDGE BEGINNINGS SCHOOL Cary 3.2 mi
Davis Drive Elementary Cary 3.4 mi 8.9
Davis Drive Middle Cary 3.5 mi 8.7
Cedar Fork Elementary Morrisville 3.6 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 Middle Apex, NC 8.6
Davis Drive Middle Cary, NC 8.7
Alston Ridge Middle Cary, NC 8.2
Harris Road Middle Concord, NC 8.1
Jay M. Robinson Middle Charlotte, NC 8.0
Community House Middle Charlotte, NC 7.9

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
13 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,628
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
88
Free/Reduced Lunch
6.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.7%

District

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

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