- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Cary, NC
Cary High
Federal NCES profile for Cary High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472001844
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cary High earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #4 of 7
- high schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 36.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cary High has class sizes larger than 71% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cary High ranks #4 of 7 high schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472001844 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Cary High held near 2,136 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 122.1 → 122.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 370472001844 · Cary, NC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,044 enr · 16.8:1 · 36.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Cary High held near 2,136 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 122.1 → 122.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Cary High 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
Cary High
2,044 students
What this shows Cary High reports 2,044 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cary High compares
Cary High 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 | 16.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.0% | ▼ 45% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,044 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,044
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% 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
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 71% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.5%
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 341 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
156
in-school suspensions + 122 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 43.0%
Hispanic or Latino 29.2%
African American 17.2%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Cary High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
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 High 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 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cary High'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 high schools in Cary
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Panther Creek High
Standard public school
2,609 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Green Hope High
Standard public school
2,304 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Green Level High
Standard public school
2,283 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Score Academy
Alternative education program
584 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Wake Stem Early College High School
Standard public school
294 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Crossroads Flex
Standard public school
139 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~2,044 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cary High
How many students attend Cary High?
Cary High has 2,044 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 2,145 (2022-23) → 2,136 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cary High?
The student-teacher ratio at Cary High is 16.8:1, which is 6% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cary High?
36.0% of students at Cary High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cary High?
The largest demographic group at Cary High is White at 43.0% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cary High?
Cary High has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 High rank among high schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Cary High ranks #4 of 7 high 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 high schools in Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Cary High, 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.