- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cary, NC
Mills Park Middle
Federal NCES profile for Mills Park Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472003205
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mills Park Middle earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #4 of 7
- middle schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 19.2:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 5.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Mills Park Middle has class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mills Park Middle ranks #4 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003205 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Mills Park Middle held near 1,628 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 85.0 → 88.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 370472003205 · Cary, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
1,632 enr · 19.2:1 · 5.5% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Mills Park Middle held near 1,628 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 85.0 → 88.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mills Park 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
Mills Park Middle
1,632 students
What this shows Mills Park Middle reports 1,632 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mills Park Middle compares
Mills Park 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 | 19.2:1 | ▲ 22% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.5% | ▼ 92% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,632 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,632
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 92% 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
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
65
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 54.7%
White 29.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
African American 5.3%
Two or More 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 54.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, Mills Park 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 Mills Park Middle 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mills Park 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.
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
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 (~1,632 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Mills Park Middle
How many students attend Mills Park Middle?
Mills Park Middle has 1,632 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,630 (2022-23) → 1,628 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Mills Park Middle is 19.2:1, which is 22% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mills Park Middle?
5.5% of students at Mills Park Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mills Park Middle?
The largest demographic group at Mills Park Middle is Asian at 54.7% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mills Park Middle?
Mills Park Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Middle rank among middle schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Mills Park Middle ranks #4 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 Mills Park 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.