For the 2026 school year, there are 32 public schools serving 29,710 students in Cary, NC (there are 21 private schools, serving 2,967 private students). 91% of all K-12 students in Cary, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%). Cary has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
The top-ranked public schools in Cary, NC are Green Hope High School, Green Hope Elementary School and Mills Park Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cary, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 76% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Cary have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cary, NC (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Green Hope High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Gr: 9-12 | 2,304 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Gr: PK-5 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #33.
Mills Park Middle School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
441 Mills Park Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Gr: 6-8 | 1,632 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #44.
Green Level High School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
7600 Roberts Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8222
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8222
Gr: 9-12 | 2,283 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Highcroft Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Mills Park Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Gr: PK-5 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2151 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-2130
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-2130
Gr: K-5 | 794 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Middle School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2101 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Gr: 6-8 | 992 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #99.
Wake Stem Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2205 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Gr: 9-13 | 267 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1010.
Triangle Math And Science Academy
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
312 Gregson Dr.
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Gr: K-12 | 1,904 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1111.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1212.
Panther Creek High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6770 Mccrimmon Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 463-8656
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 463-8656
Gr: 9-12 | 2,609 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1313.
Crossroads Flex
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5651 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8515
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8515
Gr: 9-12 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1414.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Gr: PK-5 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1515.
Alston Ridge Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
7833 Fussell Avenue
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8044
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8044
Gr: 6-8 | 1,494 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1616.
Briarcliff Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1220 Pond St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Gr: PK-5 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1717.
Weatherstone Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Olde Weatherstone Way
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Gr: PK-5 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #1818.
Carpenter Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2100 Morrisville Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 462-6780
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 462-6780
Gr: PK-5 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1919.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2020.
West Cary Middle School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Evans Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3528
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3528
Gr: 6-8 | 824 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2121.
Northwoods Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8850 Chapel Hill Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3491
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3491
Gr: PK-5 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #2222.
Cary High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
638 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3549
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3549
Gr: 9-12 | 2,044 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2323.
Cary Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3455
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3455
Gr: PK-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2424.
Turner Creek Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6801 Turner Creek Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 363-1391
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 363-1391
Gr: PK-5 | 638 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2525.
Penny Road Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10900 Penny Rd
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 387-2136
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 387-2136
Gr: K-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2626.
Reedy Creek Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
930 Reedy Creek Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3504
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3504
Gr: 6-8 | 805 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2727.
Cardinal Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1020 St. Charles Place
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Gr: K-8 | 584 students Student-teacher ratio: 45:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2828.
Adams Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
805 Cary Towne Blvd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3431
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3431
Gr: PK-5 | 655 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2929.
East Cary Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1111 Se Maynard Road
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 466-4377
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 466-4377
Gr: 6-8 | 597 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #3030.
Kingswood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 E. Johnson Street
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3481
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3481
Gr: PK-5 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #3131.
Reedy Creek Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
940 Reedy Creek Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-3660
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-3660
Gr: K-5 | 605 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #3232.
Score Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5651 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8560
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8560
Gr: 9-12 | 584 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Cary, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Cary, NC include Green Hope High School, Green Hope Elementary School and Mills Park Middle School. Cary has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public schools are located in Cary?
32 public schools are located in Cary.
What percentage of students in Cary go to public school?
91% of all K-12 students in Cary are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cary?
Cary public schools minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cary are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cary include: Panther Creek High School vs. Green Hope High School, Green Hope High School vs. Panther Creek High School, Mills Park Middle School vs. Davis Drive Middle School
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