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Penny Road Elementary

Q: Is Penny Road Elementary a good school?

Penny Road Elementary ranks 461 st of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

461^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 69% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Penny Road Elementary is a public elementary school in Cary, North Carolina, serving 488 students in grades K-5. It is part of the Wake County Schools district, which is ranked 60th out of 242 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Penny Road Elementary has consistently ranked in the top 25% of North Carolina elementary schools over the past 10 years, with strong academic performance, particularly in mathematics. In 2024-2025, 72.7% of 3rd graders, 67% of 4th graders, and 62.2% of 5th graders were proficient or better in mathematics, outpacing the state averages. The school's reading and science proficiency rates are also above the state and district averages. However, the school's performance has fluctuated over time, and its ranking within the state has declined from its peak in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years.

Compared to nearby schools, Penny Road Elementary generally outperforms its peers, particularly in mathematics. For example, in 2024-2025, Penny Road's 3rd grade mathematics proficiency rate of 72.7% was significantly higher than the rates of Briarcliff Elementary (62.5%), Middle Creek Elementary (61.5%), and Oak Grove Elementary (63.4%). However, some nearby schools, such as Farmington Woods Elementary and Laurel Park Elementary, have even stronger academic performance.

509

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,556

Per pupil spending ?

36.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10900 Penny Rd
Cary, NC 27518

(919) 387-2136

District: Wake County Schools

Students who attend Penny Road Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Dillard Drive Middle
High:	Wake Early College of Health and Science
	Wake STEM Early College High School
	Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
	Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.2%

Hispanic:

21.0%

African American:

14.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Penny Road Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 92nd percentile in 2015 → 69th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (63% vs 57% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 23 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg66%

North Carolina avg57%

461^st of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 23 pts since 2015

From top 8% (2015) to top 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

63^rd of 115Elementary Schools in the Wake County Schools

60^th of 242Wake County Schools 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	66.5	461 of 1490	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	542 of 1505	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.1	441 of 1502	70.6%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	329 of 1514	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	76.7	294 of 1489	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	185 of 1473	87.4%	★★★★☆
2018	84.5	167 of 1434	88.4%	★★★★☆
2017	80.8	209 of 1429	85.4%	★★★★☆
2016	86.4	135 of 1425	90.5%	★★★★★
2015	88.0	119 of 1440	91.7%	★★★★★
2014	87.7	131 of 1390	90.6%	★★★★★
2013	90.1	106 of 1403	92.4%	★★★★★
2012	73.5	334 of 1388	75.9%	★★★★☆
2011	71.6	373 of 1381	73.0%	★★★★☆
2010	73.8	317 of 1363	76.7%	★★★★☆
2009	58.8	638 of 1354	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	79.7	187 of 1324	85.9%	★★★★☆
2007	73.5	288 of 1293	77.7%	★★★★☆
2006	74.5	262 of 1276	79.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.2	632 of 918	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.1	529 of 924	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	633 of 933	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.7	595 of 927	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.8	337 of 949	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.6	247 of 927	73.4%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	54.2	213 of 634	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.6	422 of 897	53.0%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	15.3	542 of 563	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.8	444 of 533	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.1	284 of 1451	80.4%	★★★★☆
2024	64.5	462 of 1455	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.7	440 of 1459	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.3	422 of 1458	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	69.5	374 of 1440	74.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.3	190 of 1424	86.7%	★★★★☆
2018	80.4	218 of 1405	84.5%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	54.0	443 of 710	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.8	258 of 669	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	151 of 582	74.1%	★★★★☆
2022	65.2	157 of 500	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.1	261 of 494	47.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	19.3	866 of 961	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	800 of 951	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.3	606 of 915	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	657 of 893	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.1	567 of 865	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.1	313 of 851	63.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	13.3	1371 of 1437	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.2	1398 of 1450	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	1322 of 1437	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.4	1227 of 1366	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.3	1219 of 1329	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	39.6	885 of 1361	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.0	809 of 1332	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.4	621 of 1450	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.2	627 of 1464	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.3	443 of 1461	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.6	253 of 1464	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	79.7	242 of 1444	83.2%	★★★★☆
2019	83.1	178 of 1430	87.6%	★★★★☆
2018	86.2	144 of 1413	89.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	580 of 821	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.9	331 of 801	58.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	80.1	182 of 1172	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	72.1	294 of 1166	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	178 of 1183	85.0%	★★★★☆
2022	88.0	75 of 1194	93.7%	★★★★★
2021	85.1	122 of 1172	89.6%	★★★★☆
2019	91.1	40 of 1183	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	90.3	49 of 1178	95.8%	★★★★★

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)

White (2025)84th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile+11 vs school

Disabled (2022)66th percentile-12 vs school

Male (2025)57th percentile-12 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)38th percentile-31 vs school

African American (2025)31st percentile-38 vs school

Special Education (2025)29th percentile-40 vs school

Hispanic (2025)10th percentile-59 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)5th percentile-64 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)4th percentile-65 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics68%+7 vs state

Science64%~ state avg

Reading59%+6 vs state

1.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 7, 2014

This school looks ok from the outside but after several years at this school I have experienced very dysfunctional behavior from the principal and vice principal. If you have a child that likes bullying or disrupting the class you are in the right school. Punishment might be a missed recess or a visit to the office but that is about it. If they have a good day they get a reward. Great children who never do anything wrong do not get rewards and be aware that if they are ever caught doing something minor wrong they will be made an example of and punished severely. This principal has no idea how to run a school, knows nothing about the volunteers who spent a good time of their day in the school. She knows nothing about the kids and turns a blind eye if you have a complaint about a teacher.I am glad to be out of there!!!!!!!!!!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Penny Road Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Penny Road Elementary	Public	K-5	10900 Penny Rd	Cary	27518	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-2136	509	38	13.4	36.9%	286 (56.2%)	73 (14.3%)	107 (21.0%)	21 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.1%)	66.5	461^st of 1490 public elementary schools	69.1%		62	542^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	64.0%	81	72.7	67.0	62.2				61.4	63.5	50.0				63.5		$9,556	$424	$9,132
Oak Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10401 Penny Road	Raleigh	27606	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-4490	553	42	13.1	33.1%	293 (53.0%)	91 (16.5%)	114 (20.6%)	39 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.9%)	67.8	430^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.1%		72.9	357^th of 1505 public elementary schools	76.3%	73	63.4	55.1	70.6				57.3	59.6	72.9				72.9		$10,384	$768	$9,616
Farmington Woods Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1413 Hampton Valley Rd	Cary	27511	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 460-3469	648	47	13.8	31.0%	305 (47.1%)	63 (9.7%)	140 (21.6%)	102 (15.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (5.6%)	88.4	133^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	91.1%		89.2	126^th of 1505 public elementary schools	91.6%	7	82.2	72.2	78.3				67.3	78.4	75.7				81.7		$9,948	$469	$9,479
Laurel Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2450 Laura Duncan Rd	Apex	27523	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 290-2333	694	47	14.7	12.7%	444 (64.0%)	35 (5.0%)	67 (9.7%)	96 (13.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.2%)	87.5	143^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	90.4%		91.6	94^th of 1505 public elementary schools	93.8%	49	74.8	79.7	76.4				62.6	81.2	76.4				82.1		$9,351	$452	$8,899
Apex Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	700 Tingen Road	Apex	27502	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-2150	550	39	14.0	34.2%	303 (55.1%)	49 (8.9%)	127 (23.1%)	43 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (4.9%)	76.2	304^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.6%		82.5	211^th of 1505 public elementary schools	86.0%	93	84.9	79.1	62.6				69.8	73.0	52.5				65.7		$9,307	$377	$8,931
Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	220 Rosewood Centre Dr	Holly Springs	27540	Wake County	Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(919) 439-9448	1,258	83	15.1		905 (71.9%)	54 (4.3%)	93 (7.4%)	124 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	80 (6.4%)	90.7	101^st of 1490 public elementary schools	93.2%		83.2	201^st of 1505 public elementary schools	86.6%	100	73.4	78.0	80.8	79.4	78.6	60.4	72.6	82.1	76.8	77.6	76.8	78.8	92.0	86.3
Baucom Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	400 Hunter St	Apex	27502	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-2168	675	49	13.8	21.2%	297 (44.0%)	61 (9.0%)	94 (13.9%)	192 (28.4%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.6%)	24 (3.6%)	89.2	119^th of 1490 public elementary schools	92.0%		91.4	96^th of 1505 public elementary schools	93.6%	23	85.8	85.7	76.6				69.2	75.2	75.8				75.8		$9,174	$659	$8,515
Briarcliff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1220 Pond St	Cary	27511	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 460-3443	486	32	15.0	43.0%	275 (56.6%)	39 (8.0%)	117 (24.1%)	40 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	55.4	645^th of 1490 public elementary schools	56.7%		68.2	440^th of 1505 public elementary schools	70.8%	205	62.5	58.2	49.4				55.6	68.4	55.3				57.6		$10,299	$630	$9,670
Middle Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Middle Creek Park Avenue	Apex	27539	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 773-9555	636	48	13.2	34.3%	390 (61.3%)	72 (11.3%)	126 (19.8%)	24 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.5%)	77.6	284^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.9%		74.6	329^th of 1505 public elementary schools	78.1%	45	61.5	72.2	79.2				59.6	67.6	72.3				77.2		$9,925	$510	$9,416
Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6116 Old Jenks Road	Apex	27523	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 363-2865	776	57	13.6	25.4%	383 (49.4%)	48 (6.2%)	127 (16.4%)	197 (25.4%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.2%)	79.9	245^th of 1490 public elementary schools	83.6%		81.5	219^th of 1505 public elementary schools	85.4%	26	66.7	82.8	77.9				58.5	75.0	65.0				74.3		$10,097	$801	$9,296

Frequently Asked Questions about Penny Road Elementary

What schools do graduates of Penny Road Elementary attend?

Students who attend Penny Road Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dillard Drive Middle
High : Wake Early College of Health and Science
High : Wake STEM Early College High School
High : Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
High : Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy

What district is Penny Road Elementary in?

Wake County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Penny Road Elementary?

Students at Penny Road Elementary are 56% White, 21% Hispanic, 14% African American, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Penny Road Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 509 students attended Penny Road Elementary.

Is Penny Road Elementary a good school?

Penny Road Elementary ranks 461^st of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Penny Road Elementary!

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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.