- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Cary, NC
Panther Creek High
Federal NCES profile for Panther Creek High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472002810
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panther Creek High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #6 of 7
- high schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.1:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 12.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Panther Creek High has class sizes larger than 93% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Creek High ranks #6 of 7 high schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472002810 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+126 students YoY
Panther Creek High grew from 2,435 students in 2022-23 to 2,561 in 2023-24 (+5.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 118.6 → 118.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+126 students YoY 370472002810 · Cary, NC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,609 enr · 22.1:1 · 12.8% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Panther Creek High grew from 2,435 students in 2022-23 to 2,561 in 2023-24 (+5.2%). Teacher FTE lost 118.6 → 118.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Panther Creek 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
- This school
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- Leesville Road
Leesville Road High
2,411 students
What this shows Panther Creek High reports 2,609 students on the CCD universe file.
How Panther Creek High compares
Panther Creek High is a growing 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 | 22.1:1 | ▲ 40% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.8% | ▼ 81% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,609 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,609
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
12.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 81% 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
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 40% above state mean
Top 93% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
13.3%
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 373 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 108 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Asian 47.9%
White 23.9%
African American 15.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Two or More 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 47.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, Panther Creek High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 26
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 Panther Creek High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Leesville Road High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panther Creek 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
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 2,411
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar high schools in Cary
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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
Cary High
Standard public school
2,044 students 16.8:1 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 (~2,609 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Panther Creek High
How many students attend Panther Creek High?
Panther Creek High has 2,609 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 2,435 (2022-23) → 2,561 (2023-24), up 126.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panther Creek High?
The student-teacher ratio at Panther Creek High is 22.1:1, which is 40% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panther Creek High?
12.8% of students at Panther Creek High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panther Creek High?
The largest demographic group at Panther Creek High is Asian at 47.9% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panther Creek High?
Panther Creek High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Panther Creek High rank among high schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Creek High ranks #6 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 Panther Creek High, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Millbrook High (2,498 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.