- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cary, NC
Alston Ridge Middle
Federal NCES profile for Alston Ridge Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472003491
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 79
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alston Ridge Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #7 of 7
- middle schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.2:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 17.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Alston Ridge Middle has class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alston Ridge Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003491 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+73 students YoY
Alston Ridge Middle grew from 1,459 students in 2022-23 to 1,532 in 2023-24 (+5.0%).
Teacher FTE added 78.4 → 81.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+73 students YoY 370472003491 · Cary, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
1,494 enr · 19.2:1 · 17.7% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Alston Ridge Middle grew from 1,459 students in 2022-23 to 1,532 in 2023-24 (+5.0%). Teacher FTE added 78.4 → 81.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Alston Ridge Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school
Alston Ridge Middle
1,494 students
What this shows Alston Ridge Middle reports 1,494 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alston Ridge Middle compares
Alston Ridge Middle is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 22% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.7% | ▼ 73% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,494 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,494
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,691
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 498 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
81
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Asian 49.3%
White 22.4%
Hispanic or Latino 11.7%
African American 11.4%
Two or More 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 49.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Alston Ridge Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Alston Ridge Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alston Ridge Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Cary
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Mills Park Middle
Standard public school
1,632 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Davis Drive Middle
Standard public school
992 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
West Cary Middle
Standard public school
824 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Reedy Creek Middle
Standard public school
805 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
East Cary Middle
Standard public school
597 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Connections Academy
Alternative education program
8 students
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,494 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Alston Ridge Middle
How many students attend Alston Ridge Middle?
Alston Ridge Middle has 1,494 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,459 (2022-23) → 1,532 (2023-24), up 73.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alston Ridge Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Alston Ridge Middle is 19.2:1, which is 22% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alston Ridge Middle?
17.7% of students at Alston Ridge Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alston Ridge Middle?
The largest demographic group at Alston Ridge Middle is Asian at 49.3% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alston Ridge Middle?
Alston Ridge Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alston Ridge Middle rank among middle schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Alston Ridge Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Alston Ridge Middle, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.