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Very Good

#568 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 21% in state

Northwoods Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

8850 Chapel Hill Road, Cary, NC 27513

Enrollment

618

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#568 of 2,648

In Cary

#13 of 32

public schools

In district

#64 of 194

Wake County Schools

Academic growth

8.1 / 10

Excellent

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Northwoods Elementary

7.8/10

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

West Cary Middle

7.5/10

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

Cardinal Charter Academy

7.0/10

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

About Northwoods Elementary

Northwoods Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Northwoods Elementary serves approximately 618 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Northwoods Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #568 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Northwoods Elementary show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.92 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.8% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.5 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+2.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment6.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism24.4%

Northwoods Elementary — Students at Northwoods Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

31.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 63.2% (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
85%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
64%
ELA
55%
2013
Math
59%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
59%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
60%
ELA
54%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
65%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
54%
ELA
53%
2019
Math
54%
ELA
53%
2020*
Math
59%
ELA
66%
2021*
Math
59%
ELA
66%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
71.6%
ELA
67.1%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Northwoods Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.8/10
79th percentile in NC
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
8.1/10
Excellent
Environment
6.6/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
31%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
41 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
24.4%

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

8850 Chapel Hill Road, Cary, NC 27513

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwoods Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Farmington Woods Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Weatherstone Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY (rated 7.9/10, 2.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Cary, see our Cary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.9 mi
School Distance Rating
West Cary Middle Cary 0.6 mi 7.5
Cardinal Charter Academy Cary 0.6 mi 7.0
Kingswood Elementary Cary 0.7 mi 7.0
Cary Elementary Cary 1.0 mi 7.1
TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary 1.2 mi 7.6
Weatherstone Elementary Cary 1.2 mi 7.9
Briarcliff Elementary Cary 1.8 mi 6.2
Reedy Creek Middle Cary 1.7 mi 7.1
East Cary Middle Cary 1.7 mi 7.1
SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary 1.6 mi 6.8
Reedy Creek Elementary Cary 1.8 mi 5.8
TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary 2.1 mi
CARY ACADEMY Cary 2.0 mi 6.6
ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cary 1.8 mi 6.2
Cary High Cary 2.1 mi 6.9
Adams Elementary Cary 2.0 mi 5.1
LUCY DANIELS SCHOOL Cary 2.3 mi
Farmington Woods Elementary Cary 2.7 mi 8.4
GROVE SCHOOL OF CARY Cary 2.9 mi
CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY Cary 2.9 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27513 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$119,458

Median Home Value

$468,300

Median Rent

$1,491/mo

Population

47,444

College Educated

67.9%

Homeownership

63.2%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

40.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
A.C.E. Academy Harrisburg, NC 7.8
Brush Creek Elementary Marshall, NC 7.8
Cedar Fork Elementary Morrisville, NC 7.8
Clyde Campbell Elementary Hickory, NC 7.8
Dr John Codington Elem Wilmington, NC 7.8
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School Forest City, NC 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northwoods Elementary

What grades does Northwoods Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Northwoods Elementary?

Northwoods Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 618 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwoods Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwoods Elementary is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwoods Elementary rank in NC?

Northwoods Elementary ranks #568 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Northwoods Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwoods Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Northwoods Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwoods Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Northwoods Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Northwoods Elementary a Title I school?

No, Northwoods Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

31.1% of students at Northwoods 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
43 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
41 Some Transit
Bike Score
59 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
618
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Free/Reduced Lunch
31.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.4%

District

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

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