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Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School

Q: Is Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School a good school?

Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School ranks 632 nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

632^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School in Wake Forest, NC, is a public charter school serving 752 students in grades PK-8. It currently ranks in the 58th percentile statewide (3 stars), a solid recovery from last year's 37th-percentile ranking. The school sits in a competitive local market, trailing top nearby options like Endeavor Charter School, Heritage Elementary, and Abbotts Creek Elementary, while outperforming lower-ranked district schools such as Wildwood Forest Elementary.

The school’s biggest academic strength is its middle grades. In 8th grade, 92.6% of students scored proficient in reading—well above the state average of 56.1% and even slightly higher than Endeavor Charter’s 91.0%. Eighth-grade science is also strong at 85.2% versus the state’s 68.6%. However, elementary math is a persistent weak spot: 3rd- and 5th-grade math scores have consistently trailed state averages, though the gap narrows by middle school. Casa Esperanza also stands out for serving several student groups well, including English learners, African American students, Hispanic students, and low-income students, all of whom rank above the 60th percentile in statewide subgroup comparisons. Special education support is the clearest area needing improvement.

Attendance is a concern: about one in five students was chronically absent in 2024-2025, far above the school's pre-pandemic rate of 5.4% but still better than the state average of 24.2%. The student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1 is high compared with nearby Wake County elementary schools, yet middle-school results remain competitive. For parents weighing options, Casa Esperanza offers a distinctive PK-8 Montessori experience whose strongest payoff appears in middle-school literacy and science. If the school can improve early-grade math and continue its recent upward trend, it could reclaim its place among the area’s top choices.

752

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

87.5%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 6.9% (any vaccine)

10510 Star Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587

(919) 855-9811

District: Casa Esperanza Montessori

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.5%

White:

21.9%

African American:

16.4%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 32 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

632^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 32 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

201^st of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 26%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

58^th of 246Casa Esperanza Montessori among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	632 of 1492	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.5	946 of 1490	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.0	819 of 1505	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.6	567 of 1502	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.0	412 of 1514	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	70.4	393 of 1489	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	57.6	628 of 1473	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.6	494 of 1434	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	80.2	221 of 1429	84.5%	★★★★☆
2016	85.9	143 of 1425	90.0%	★★★★★
2015	83.8	174 of 1440	87.9%	★★★★☆
2014	87.3	135 of 1390	90.3%	★★★★★
2013	89.0	116 of 1403	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	77.6	251 of 1388	81.9%	★★★★☆
2011	63.5	558 of 1381	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.7	669 of 1363	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	71.9	356 of 1354	73.7%	★★★★☆
2008	77.5	231 of 1324	82.6%	★★★★☆
2007	75.7	244 of 1293	81.1%	★★★★☆
2006	65.7	419 of 1276	67.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	269 of 903	70.2%	★★★★☆
2025	37.4	602 of 918	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.5	299 of 924	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.7	128 of 933	86.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.1	187 of 949	80.3%	★★★★☆
2018	66.0	242 of 927	73.9%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.5	110 of 519	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	39.6	332 of 563	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	16.5	491 of 514	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.7	656 of 1447	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	33.1	1023 of 1451	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.8	930 of 1455	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.6	625 of 1459	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.0	627 of 1458	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.0	565 of 1440	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.7	814 of 1424	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.5	615 of 1405	56.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.1	324 of 981	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.9	527 of 961	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.6	456 of 951	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.9	491 of 915	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.0	289 of 893	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.1	239 of 843	71.6%	★★★★☆
2019	55.4	357 of 865	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.1	263 of 851	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	495 of 1434	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.9	1055 of 1437	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.6	1025 of 1450	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.4	710 of 1437	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.9	392 of 1366	71.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.7	597 of 1451	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.0	797 of 1450	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.1	647 of 1464	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.5	457 of 1461	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	80.1	231 of 1464	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	80.7	224 of 1444	84.5%	★★★★☆
2019	66.7	433 of 1430	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.1	383 of 1413	72.9%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	438 of 815	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.6	690 of 821	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.5	397 of 1146	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.7	798 of 1172	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.6	599 of 1166	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	70.4	314 of 1183	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	81.6	170 of 1194	85.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.6	231 of 1172	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	77.4	212 of 1183	82.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	177 of 1178	85.0%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	201 of 778	74.2%	★★★★☆
2025	54.3	337 of 773	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.2	196 of 793	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	150 of 784	80.9%	★★★★☆
2022	67.4	221 of 786	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	72.9	183 of 741	75.3%	★★★★☆
2019	59.8	289 of 737	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.8	128 of 691	81.5%	★★★★☆
2017	64.3	238 of 694	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	75.5	146 of 692	78.9%	★★★★☆
2015	85.2	83 of 705	88.2%	★★★★☆
2014	89.2	49 of 627	92.2%	★★★★★
2013	79.6	110 of 673	83.7%	★★★★☆
2012	82.7	60 of 662	90.9%	★★★★★
2011	85.6	27 of 648	95.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	77.5	86 of 553	84.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.5	13 of 363	96.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.2	222 of 731	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.5	386 of 733	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.6	300 of 738	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.6	201 of 731	72.5%	★★★★☆
2022	50.8	353 of 733	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.3	196 of 706	72.2%	★★★★☆
2019	42.3	423 of 684	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	86.6	59 of 656	91.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.6	109 of 566	80.7%	★★★★☆
2025	42.9	320 of 562	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	71.1	105 of 564	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	65.9	141 of 553	74.5%	★★★★☆
2022	69.3	111 of 541	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	81.6	50 of 522	90.4%	★★★★★
2019	47.5	258 of 493	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.7	159 of 472	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.9	184 of 725	74.6%	★★★★☆
2025	41.2	427 of 729	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.0	173 of 743	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	67.4	176 of 735	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	42.4	386 of 689	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.8	164 of 736	77.7%	★★★★☆
2025	60.1	264 of 733	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	80.9	118 of 751	84.3%	★★★★☆
2023	84.2	97 of 747	87.0%	★★★★☆
2022	78.9	140 of 748	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	84.6	85 of 711	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	57.0	295 of 697	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.3	268 of 665	59.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.5	139 of 644	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	64.1	212 of 652	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.1	107 of 656	83.7%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	200 of 658	69.6%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

English Language Learner (2026)79th percentile+21 vs school

African American (2026)70th percentile+13 vs school

Hispanic (2026)67th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)65th percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)65th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)59th percentile~ school

Female (2026)55th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)46th percentile-11 vs school

Middle school

English Language Learner (2026)96th percentile+22 vs school

African American (2026)84th percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)81st percentile+7 vs school

White (2026)78th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)78th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile~ school

Female (2026)70th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science70%~ state avg

Reading65%+9 vs state

Mathematics61%~ state avg

3.9

25 ratings · 24 written reviews

5★15

4★3

3★0

2★3

1★4

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, December 9, 2019

I’d like to see more consistently throughout the curriculum. Handwriting and spelling have gone out the window. Kids in enrichment aren’t learning much spanish but the basics year after year... colors, numbers... they don’t progress. The teachers who stay are great but there is a lot of turnover which is hard on the kids especially mid year. There is great parent involvement and staff are friendly. All pluses. I give Casa only 2 stars because I see a lot of area that need improvement. We stay at Casa with the hope it will change for the better especially with a new head of school. In the meantime there is a lot of support at home and reteaching some basic skills. Close Quote

by a teacher
Monday, December 9, 2019

I have been working at Casa since 2013. We have had our ups and downs, but I strongly believe in the school. I love teaching here, we have a good salary, great benefits a new amazing principal and an awesome PFA. I know we are heading a great way under our new administration. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, December 8, 2019

We have been at Casa for five years, and all three of our children currently attend. We have had an amazing experience in the immersion program. Our children love their teachers and have learned so much. My husband and I do not speak Spanish, so it is a joy to see how far our children's language skills have come in their time at Casa. We are often told by naive speakers that their Spanish is excellent! We are also thrilled to see how our older daughters' study skills have developed as a result of the Montessori component of Casa's program. Now in third and fourth grade, they have learned independently to follow their work plan at school and very rarely need to be reminded to do their homework. We couldn't be happier with their education at Casa, and we love the warm environment the teachers, staff, and parents have created. I can't imagine our kids anywhere else. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, December 8, 2019

I just want you all to read the dates of the reviews when you are considering the school. They encourage parents to put up reviews all at one time to skew the actual reviews. There are happy people and unhappy people and potential parents should be able to make an informed decision. The curriculum is not good and no one is on one accord. There isn't a standard reading and writing curriculum so if new teachers come in they have no clue what to do. The scores are evident in that. The school has been on an academic decline since 2014 and it hasn't went back up.They are not keeping up with WCPSS pay for teachers so any teachers. The class sizes are horrible. There are at least 29-31 students in each classroom. NC has passed laws about classroom sizes. In k youre only suppose to have 18 kids, in 1st 16, and so on. Smaller class sizes improve a child's education and that's not happening at Casa. Close Quote

by a teacher
Sunday, December 8, 2019

Teaching in CASA is the best. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, December 8, 2019

My son has been at Casa since pre-k he is now a 4th grader and he loves his school. He has had great teachers thru out the years that have cared for him and helped him succeed. The school has a new principal Sra. Connor, students love her, the staff has only positive things to say about her. She is bringing positive changes to school. We are very excited about this school year. Close Quote