Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cary, NC
Cardinal Charter Academy
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal Charter Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
The verdict
Cardinal Charter Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 34.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal Charter Academy has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Charter Academy ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Cary, NC.
School address
NCES ID 370035803325 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Cardinal Charter Academy held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 42.5 → 28.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 370035803325 · Cary, NC Elementary · MID · CHARTER
584 enr · 13.9:1 · 34.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Arroyo Seco Elementary (584 students)
Cardinal Charter Academy held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 42.5 → 28.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
How Cardinal Charter Academy compares
Cardinal Charter Academy held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 13.9:1 | ▼ 12% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.4% | ▼ 48% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 584 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
Equity indicators methodology
Student demographics
Largest group: African American at 33.9% of enrollment.
Simpson diversity index - at 75.6, Cardinal Charter Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
District finance for Cardinal Charter reports $8,801 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
Similar elementary schools in Cary
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~584 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Charter Academy
How many students attend Cardinal Charter Academy?
Cardinal Charter Academy has 584 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 700 (2022-23) → 720 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Charter Academy is 13.9:1, which is 12% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cardinal Charter Academy?
34.4% of students at Cardinal Charter Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal Charter Academy?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal Charter Academy is African American at 33.9% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal Charter Academy?
Cardinal Charter Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Cardinal Charter Academy rank among elementary schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Charter Academy ranks #2 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Cardinal Charter?
None; Cardinal Charter is a single-school charter district, and Cardinal Charter Academy is its only campus.