- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cary, NC
Connections Academy
Federal NCES profile for Connections Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 64/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472003445
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 98
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Connections Academy earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index on federal resource data. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- #1 of 7
- middle schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 64
- Resource Index · Higher
- 85.7%
- free-lunch eligible
- 8
- students enrolled
By Resource Investment Index, Connections Academy ranks #1 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Connections Academy shrank from 21 students in 2022-23 to 17 in 2023-24 (-19.0%).
Teacher FTE added 12.6 → 12.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-4 students YoY 370472003445 · Cary, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
8 enr · 85.7% lunch · RII 64
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Connections Academy shrank from 21 students in 2022-23 to 17 in 2023-24 (-19.0%). Teacher FTE added 12.6 → 12.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Connections Academy 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 8
Connections Academy
8 students
What this shows Connections Academy reports 8 students on the CCD universe file.
How Connections Academy compares
Connections Academy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.7% | ▲ 30% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 8 | top 100% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8
Bigger than 1% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
85.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
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 8 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 200.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 512.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 37.5%
Hispanic or Latino 37.5%
African American 25.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Connections Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Connections Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Enloe High | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Connections Academy'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
Alston Ridge Middle
Standard public school
1,494 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
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.
Frequently asked questions about Connections Academy
How many students attend Connections Academy?
Connections Academy has 8 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 21 (2022-23) → 17 (2023-24), down 4.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Connections Academy?
85.7% of students at Connections Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Connections Academy?
The largest demographic group at Connections Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 37.5% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Connections Academy?
Connections Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 64/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Connections Academy rank among middle schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Connections Academy ranks #1 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 Connections Academy, 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.