Very Good
#578 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 22% 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
Enrollment
618
Student-Teacher
15.1:1
Score
7.8
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Cary
#8 of 32
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#504 of 1,474
In district
#60 of 194
Wake County Schools
Academic performance
8.3 / 10
Very strong
About Northwoods Elementary
Northwoods Elementary serves 618 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Cary, North Carolina, offering a solid educational foundation with strong community support. With 41 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more individualized attention. Academically, Northwoods Elementary demonstrates reliable performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranking in the 74th percentile among North Carolina elementary schools.
Students show particular strength in mathematics, with 72% achieving proficiency or above, while 67% meet or exceed proficiency standards in English Language Arts and reading. The school benefits from its location in an affluent and well-educated community within the 27513 ZIP code, where the median household income reaches $116,669 and 68% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. This educated community environment, combined with low poverty rates of just 4.9%, creates supportive conditions for student learning and family engagement.
Northwoods Elementary sits along Chapel Hill Road in Cary, a thriving mid-size city in Wake County known for its excellent schools and family-friendly atmosphere, providing students with both academic opportunities and a strong sense of community.
Score Breakdown
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Northwoods Elementary — Students at Northwoods Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
31.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 8.0/10.
How Northwoods Elementary Compares
See how Northwoods Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 54% (2019) to 71.8% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 53% (2019) to 67.1% (2025).
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. Kingswood Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Farmington Woods Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Cary Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. 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 | 6.9 |
| Cardinal Charter Academy Cary | 0.6 mi | 5.8 |
| Kingswood Elementary Cary | 0.7 mi | 8.6 |
| Cary Elementary Cary | 1.0 mi | 8.3 |
| TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary | 1.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Weatherstone Elementary Cary | 1.2 mi | 6.1 |
| Briarcliff Elementary Cary | 1.8 mi | 6.0 |
| Reedy Creek Middle Cary | 1.7 mi | 6.8 |
| East Cary Middle Cary | 1.7 mi | 8.5 |
| SCHOLARS ACADEMY GIFTED AND ARTISTICALLY ELITE Cary | 1.6 mi | 6.8 |
| Reedy Creek Elementary Cary | 1.8 mi | 7.9 |
| TRUE ABALITIES LRNG. ACADEMY LLC Cary | 2.1 mi | — |
| CARY ACADEMY Cary | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cary | 1.8 mi | 6.1 |
| Cary High Cary | 2.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Adams Elementary Cary | 2.0 mi | 6.7 |
| LUCY DANIELS SCHOOL Cary | 2.3 mi | — |
| Farmington Woods Elementary Cary | 2.7 mi | 8.5 |
| 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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Northwoods Elementary has a median household income of $119,458. It is a well-educated community where 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $468,300, with a median rent of $1,491/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Belvoir Elementary Greenville, NC | 7.8 |
| Benton Heights Elementary Monroe, NC | 7.8 |
| Charles H Tuttle Elementary Maiden, NC | 7.8 |
| Croft Community School Charlotte, NC | 7.8 |
| Frank Morgan Elementary Clemmons, NC | 7.8 |
| Fuller Elementary Raleigh, 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 is ranked #578 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Northwoods Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Northwoods Elementary has a composite rating of 7.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Northwoods Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northwoods Elementary has 66.6% math proficiency and 64.6% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 43 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 41 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 59 Bikeable
- City Safety
- Elevated (1,393/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Cary). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (919) 460-3491
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Wake County Schools- District Enrollment
- 161,481
- Schools in District
- 197
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,691
- District Rank
- #60 of 194
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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