- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cary, NC
East Cary Middle
Federal NCES profile for East Cary Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472002830
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Cary Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of North Carolina schools.
- #6 of 7
- middle schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.7:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 32.1%
- free-lunch eligible
East Cary Middle has class sizes smaller than 81% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Cary Middle ranks #6 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472002830 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
East Cary Middle held near 623 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 47.3 → 50.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 370472002830 · Cary, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
597 enr · 12.7:1 · 32.1% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
East Cary Middle held near 623 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 47.3 → 50.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
East Cary 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 597
East Cary Middle
597 students
What this shows East Cary Middle reports 597 students on the CCD universe file.
How East Cary Middle compares
East Cary Middle 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 | 12.7:1 | ▼ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.1% | ▼ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 597 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
597
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 19% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.3%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
88
in-school suspensions + 105 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 53.3%
Hispanic or Latino 24.1%
African American 12.7%
Asian 5.4%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 53.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, East Cary 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 East Cary Middle 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 | Similar 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 East Cary 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
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
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 (~597 students)
Frequently asked questions about East Cary Middle
How many students attend East Cary Middle?
East Cary Middle has 597 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 627 (2022-23) → 623 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Cary Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at East Cary Middle is 12.7:1, which is 20% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 19% 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 East Cary Middle?
32.1% of students at East Cary Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Cary Middle?
The largest demographic group at East Cary Middle is White at 53.3% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Cary Middle?
East Cary Middle 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 East Cary Middle rank among middle schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, East Cary Middle ranks #6 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 East Cary 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.