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Cardinal Charter Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8
570th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 62% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Cardinal Charter Academy is a K–8 charter school in Cary, North Carolina, serving 584 students under its own single-school Cardinal Charter district. Statewide, the school earned a 3-star rating and ranked 570th of 1,492 schools in 2025–26, placing it in the 62nd percentile. That is a solid mid-pack result overall, but it looks less impressive next to the high-achieving elementary schools in the same neighborhood: Morrisville Elementary (93rd percentile), Weatherstone Elementary (87th), Farmington Woods Elementary (85th), Cary Elementary (84th), and Northwoods Elementary (77th) all rank well above it. Cardinal is essentially tied with nearby Kingswood Elementary and sits ahead of Adams, Reedy Creek, and Briarcliff elementaries, placing it in the lower half of a very competitive local field.

Academically, the picture is mixed and somewhat volatile. Cardinal posts strong scores in 3rd grade math (82% proficient vs. 66% statewide) and 8th grade science (85% vs. 69%), but 7th grade math fell to 47% proficiency in 2025–26 — down sharply from 76% the year before — and 5th grade science ran below the state average. Because Cardinal is one of the only K–8 schools in the area, its middle school results pull down its overall ranking in a way that does not affect nearby elementary-only schools.

Parents should also note some operational concerns. Cardinal reports a student-teacher ratio of 45.1 for 2024–25, far above the 12.6-to-15.1 range typical of neighboring schools, and chronic absenteeism sits at 20.8% — better than the state average but higher than most nearby schools. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch has risen to 47.4%, and scores for some student groups have swung sharply from year to year. On the positive side, Cardinal historically has served students with disabilities very well, remains above state averages in several subjects, and is not a low-performing school in absolute terms — it is simply no longer the high-flying school it was a decade ago, and it now faces clear competition from the excellent public schools around it.

584
Students ?
45.1
Student/teacher ratio ?
47.4%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 1020 St. Charles Place
       Cary, NC  27513

(919) 653-5000

District: Cardinal Charter

Racial breakdown:

African American:
33.9%
White:
26.2%
Hispanic:
20.5%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Cardinal Charter Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026
Strengths
Above the North Carolina median (62nd percentile)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2016
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Large classes — about 45 students per teacher
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school64%
North Carolina avg59%
Elementary school
570th of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 38%▼ down 26 pts since 2016
From top 12% (2016) to top 38% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
238th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 31%▼ down 25 pts since 2016
From top 6% (2016) to top 31% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
61st of 246Cardinal Charter 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202660.3570 of 149261.8%★★★☆☆
202570.5382 of 149074.4%★★★★☆
202459.1600 of 150560.1%★★★☆☆
202362.3540 of 150264.0%★★★☆☆
202264.8502 of 151466.8%★★★☆☆
202178.8262 of 148982.4%★★★★☆
201981.9208 of 147385.9%★★★★☆
201876.8280 of 143480.5%★★★★☆
201782.7181 of 142987.3%★★★★☆
201683.9170 of 142588.1%★★★★☆
201588.4115 of 144092.0%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202639.2587 of 90335.0%★★☆☆☆
202563.7249 of 91872.9%★★★★☆
202445.8486 of 92447.4%★★☆☆☆
202355.0364 of 93361.0%★★★☆☆
202260.3284 of 92769.4%★★★☆☆
202182.192 of 89689.7%★★★★☆
201980.1101 of 94989.4%★★★★☆
201870.3193 of 92779.2%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202560.268 of 13148.1%★★☆☆☆
202456.478 of 13040.0%★★☆☆☆
202348.077 of 11432.5%★★☆☆☆
202243.076 of 10729.0%★★☆☆☆
202149.464 of 9532.6%★★☆☆☆
201972.731 of 10670.8%★★★★☆
201878.215 of 9984.8%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202178.864 of 64690.1%★★★★★
201984.753 of 87894.0%★★★★★
201886.355 of 89793.9%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202457.5161 of 53369.8%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.4427 of 144770.5%★★★★☆
202566.9418 of 145171.2%★★★★☆
202450.5705 of 145551.5%★★★☆☆
202349.4749 of 145948.7%★★☆☆☆
202262.1514 of 145864.7%★★★☆☆
202175.2285 of 144080.2%★★★★☆
201982.5175 of 142487.7%★★★★☆
201872.7344 of 140575.5%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202168.8123 of 49475.1%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.2255 of 98174.0%★★★★☆
202576.6128 of 96186.7%★★★★☆
202446.3503 of 95147.1%★★☆☆☆
202362.9263 of 91571.3%★★★★☆
202262.5248 of 89372.2%★★★★☆
202174.3133 of 84384.2%★★★★☆
201988.642 of 86595.1%★★★★★
201860.3288 of 85166.2%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202654.2608 of 143457.6%★★★☆☆
202567.6354 of 143775.4%★★★★☆
202455.7586 of 145059.6%★★★☆☆
202356.2570 of 143760.3%★★★☆☆
202235.9917 of 136632.9%★★☆☆☆
202183.5112 of 132991.6%★★★★★
201957.5531 of 136161.0%★★★☆☆
201843.2783 of 133241.2%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202651.9688 of 145152.6%★★★☆☆
202568.5399 of 145072.5%★★★★☆
202466.9434 of 146470.4%★★★★☆
202372.7333 of 146177.2%★★★★☆
202264.6477 of 146467.4%★★★☆☆
202179.1249 of 144482.8%★★★★☆
201977.9244 of 143082.9%★★★★☆
201879.5218 of 141384.6%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202164.723 of 9776.3%★★★★☆
201962.134 of 10367.0%★★★☆☆
201835.566 of 8623.3%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202464.4173 of 80178.4%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202652.2557 of 114651.4%★★★☆☆
202571.7296 of 117274.7%★★★★☆
202462.0425 of 116663.6%★★★☆☆
202364.0403 of 118365.9%★★★☆☆
202249.7616 of 119448.4%★★☆☆☆
202165.5373 of 117268.2%★★★☆☆
201967.9350 of 118370.4%★★★★☆
201862.8439 of 117862.7%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.0238 of 77869.4%★★★☆☆
202581.3126 of 77383.7%★★★★☆
202476.9153 of 79380.7%★★★★☆
202378.4151 of 78480.7%★★★★☆
202279.7142 of 78681.9%★★★★☆
202180.0133 of 74182.1%★★★★☆
201977.0147 of 73780.1%★★★★☆
201882.092 of 69186.7%★★★★☆
201784.873 of 69489.5%★★★★☆
201691.141 of 69294.1%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202657.7197 of 55364.4%★★★☆☆
202580.065 of 54688.1%★★★★☆
202478.979 of 56085.9%★★★★☆
202378.878 of 55986.0%★★★★☆
202268.2105 of 55080.9%★★★★☆
202169.087 of 53383.7%★★★★☆
201966.4111 of 51978.6%★★★★☆
201864.5119 of 49475.9%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202257.354 of 10950.5%★★★☆☆
201979.421 of 10279.4%★★★★☆
201878.625 of 9573.7%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202294.010 of 44997.8%★★★★★
202176.737 of 47892.3%★★★★★
201983.533 of 50493.5%★★★★★
201890.914 of 47597.1%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202399.43 of 31899.1%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202655.7312 of 73157.3%★★★☆☆
202565.7218 of 73370.3%★★★★☆
202465.7229 of 73869.0%★★★☆☆
202373.7161 of 73178.0%★★★★☆
202279.4132 of 73382.0%★★★★☆
202177.0137 of 70680.6%★★★★☆
201976.1142 of 68479.2%★★★★☆
201882.984 of 65687.2%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202173.272 of 44883.9%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202580.462 of 56289.0%★★★★☆
202454.5228 of 56459.6%★★★☆☆
202286.239 of 54192.8%★★★★★
202188.233 of 52293.7%★★★★★
201960.0140 of 49371.6%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202675.4112 of 72584.6%★★★★☆
202590.538 of 72994.8%★★★★★
202478.493 of 74387.5%★★★★☆
202380.686 of 73588.3%★★★★☆
202184.843 of 63393.2%★★★★★
201970.1132 of 63979.3%★★★★☆
201842.2363 of 60439.9%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202674.8160 of 73678.3%★★★★☆
202590.254 of 73392.6%★★★★★
202481.5109 of 75185.5%★★★★☆
202377.2149 of 74780.1%★★★★☆
202277.6146 of 74880.5%★★★★☆
202179.7126 of 71182.3%★★★★☆
201974.6149 of 69778.6%★★★★☆
201880.698 of 66585.3%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202371.866 of 30278.1%★★★★☆
202267.968 of 28376.0%★★★★☆
201836.9160 of 22127.6%★☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202587.964 of 64990.1%★★★★★
202483.894 of 65285.6%★★★★☆
202371.0177 of 65673.0%★★★★☆
202276.9138 of 65879.0%★★★★☆
202181.097 of 63284.7%★★★★☆
201973.5150 of 62476.0%★★★★☆
201879.694 of 59684.2%★★★★☆
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
Disabled (2021)90th percentile+8 vs school
Special Education (2024)78th percentile+18 vs school
Multi-racial (2021)76th percentile-6 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2021)75th percentile-7 vs school
Hispanic (2026)74th percentile+12 vs school
Female (2026)70th percentile+9 vs school
English Language Learner (2024)70th percentile+10 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)58th percentile-4 vs school
Male (2026)53rd percentile-9 vs school
White (2026)51st percentile-10 vs school
Asian (2025)48th percentile-26 vs school
African American (2026)35th percentile-27 vs school
Middle school
English Language Learner (2023)99th percentile+18 vs school
Disabled (2022)98th percentile+16 vs school
White (2025)90th percentile+6 vs school
Hispanic (2025)89th percentile+5 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile+15 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2021)84th percentile~ school
Male (2026)78th percentile+9 vs school
Multi-racial (2023)78th percentile-3 vs school
African American (2026)64th percentile-5 vs school
Female (2026)57th percentile-12 vs school
Asian (2022)50th percentile-31 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Science69%~ state avg
Mathematics64%+4 vs state
Reading61%+5 vs state

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cardinal Charter Academy

Students at Cardinal Charter Academy are 34% African American, 26% White, 21% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

In the 2024-25 school year, 584 students attended Cardinal Charter Academy.

Cardinal Charter Academy ranks 570th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesNewSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 2, 2026
2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025
2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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