- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cary, NC
Mills Park Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Mills Park Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370472003012
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mills Park Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 15
- schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 11.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Mills Park Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mills Park Elementary ranks #1 of 15 schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003012 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-57 students YoY
Mills Park Elementary shrank from 702 students in 2022-23 to 645 in 2023-24 (-8.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 49.7 → 46.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-57 students YoY 370472003012 · Cary, NC Other · MID · TRAD
594 enr · 12.1:1 · 11.7% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Mills Park Elementary shrank from 702 students in 2022-23 to 645 in 2023-24 (-8.1%). Teacher FTE lost 49.7 → 46.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mills Park 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 594
Mills Park Elementary
594 students
What this shows Mills Park Elementary reports 594 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mills Park Elementary compares
Mills Park 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 | 12.1:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.7% | ▼ 82% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 594 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
594
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 13% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 46.8%
White 32.7%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
African American 4.7%
Two or More 1.7%
Largest group: Asian at 46.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, Mills Park 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 Mills Park Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mills Park 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 (~594 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mills Park Elementary
How many students attend Mills Park Elementary?
Mills Park Elementary has 594 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 702 (2022-23) → 645 (2023-24), down 57.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Elementary is 12.1:1, which is 23% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 23% 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 Mills Park Elementary?
11.7% of students at Mills Park Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mills Park Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Mills Park Elementary is Asian at 46.8% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mills Park Elementary?
Mills Park Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 Mills Park Elementary rank among schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Mills Park Elementary ranks #1 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 Mills Park 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.