- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cary, NC
West Cary Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Cary Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472001905
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Cary Middle earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 7
- middle schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 22.3%
- free-lunch eligible
West Cary Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Cary Middle ranks #2 of 7 middle schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472001905 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
West Cary Middle held near 891 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 51.0 → 50.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+31 students YoY 370472001905 · Cary, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
824 enr · 16.2:1 · 22.3% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
West Cary Middle held near 891 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount). Teacher FTE held 51.0 → 50.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West 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 824
West Cary Middle
824 students
What this shows West Cary Middle reports 824 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Cary Middle compares
West 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 | 16.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.3% | ▼ 66% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 824 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
824
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% 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
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 65% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.0%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 275 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
141
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 32.2%
White 31.3%
Hispanic or Latino 17.2%
African American 15.8%
Two or More 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 32.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.3, West 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 West 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West 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
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 (~824 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about West Cary Middle
How many students attend West Cary Middle?
West Cary Middle has 824 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 860 (2022-23) → 891 (2023-24), nearly flat (+31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Cary Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Cary Middle is 16.2:1, which is 3% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Cary Middle?
22.3% of students at West Cary Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Cary Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Cary Middle is Asian at 32.2% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Cary Middle?
West Cary Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 West Cary Middle rank among middle schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, West Cary Middle ranks #2 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 West 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.