- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cary, NC
Cary Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cary Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370472001843
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cary Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- #11 of 15
- schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 35.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Cary Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cary Elementary ranks #11 of 15 schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472001843 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Cary Elementary shrank from 470 students in 2022-23 to 440 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 370472001843 · Cary, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
477 enr · 12.6:1 · 35.1% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Cary Elementary shrank from 470 students in 2022-23 to 440 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Cary Elementary 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 477
Cary Elementary
477 students
What this shows Cary Elementary reports 477 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cary Elementary compares
Cary Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.1% | ▼ 47% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 477 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
477
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 17% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 477 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.4%
Hispanic or Latino 23.5%
African American 10.9%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 4.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 56.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.1, Cary Elementary 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 Cary Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cary Elementary'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 other schools in Cary
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Standard public school
1,904 students 45.3:1 students per teacher
Alston Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Hortons Creek Elementary
Standard public school
739 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Weatherstone Elementary
Standard public school
730 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Highcroft Elementary
Standard public school
698 students 14:1 students per teacher
Adams Elementary
Standard public school
655 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~477 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cary Elementary
How many students attend Cary Elementary?
Cary Elementary has 477 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 470 (2022-23) → 440 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cary Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cary Elementary is 12.6:1, which is 20% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 20% 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 Cary Elementary?
35.1% of students at Cary Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cary Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cary Elementary is White at 56.4% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cary Elementary?
Cary Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Cary Elementary rank among schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Cary Elementary ranks #11 of 15 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 schools in Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Cary Elementary, 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.