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Panther Creek High

Public Grades 9-12
141st
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 662 North Carolina High Schools
Better than 79% of North Carolina high schools
Summary

Panther Creek High is a large comprehensive public high school in Cary, North Carolina, serving approximately 2,609 students in grades 9–12 as part of Wake County Schools. The school currently earns a 4-star rating and ranks #141 out of 662 North Carolina high schools, placing it in the 79th percentile statewide. That represents a notable shift from its history, however: between 2015 and 2019, Panther Creek was consistently a 5-star school ranked roughly #11–#30 in the state. While still academically well above state averages, it has settled into the strong-but-not-elite tier relative to its fast-improving Wake County neighbors.

The school has several genuine strengths. Attendance is a major positive: only 11.2% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, compared with 20.5% for Wake County and 24.2% for North Carolina overall. Test scores in English II (88.7% proficient), Biology (84.8%), and Math III (84.2%) are all well above district and state averages. Panther Creek also posts unusually strong subgroup outcomes: English Language Learner students rank in the 95th percentile statewide, and special education students rank in the 90th percentile. Among nearby schools, only Green Level High (9.4%) has a lower chronic absenteeism rate; Apex Friendship High is at 12.4% and Green Hope High at 14.8%.

The school's most visible challenge is Math I, where just 51.9% of students are proficient — well below the 65.5% at Green Level, 60.0% at Green Hope, and 59.5% at Apex Friendship. This has been a persistent trend even as Math III performance stays near 85%. Panther Creek also trails those three schools in overall state ranking, sitting behind Green Level (#90), Apex Friendship (#105), and Green Hope (#124), while staying ahead of Apex High (#190) and Cary High (#279). For parents, the bottom line: Panther Creek remains a high-achieving school with strong attendance and excellent support for some of its highest-need students, but its Math I results and slipping relative standing are worth watching closely.

2,609
Students ?
20.3
Student/teacher ratio ?
14.8%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 6770 McCrimmon Parkway
       Cary, NC  27519

(919) 463-8656

District: Wake County Schools


Feeder schools for Panther Creek High:

Elementary:    Alston Ridge Elementary
    Brier Creek Elementary
    Cedar Fork Elementary
    Highcroft Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Mills Park Middle
Racial breakdown:

Asian:
47.9%
White:
23.9%
African American:
15.2%
more
 See top rated North Carolina high schools

 Compare Panther Creek High to nearby high schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (82% vs 60% meeting standards)
✓Ranks in the top 21% of North Carolina high schools
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school82%
District avg68%
North Carolina avg60%
141st of 662
North Carolina public high schools ?
Top 21%▼ down 16 pts since 2016
From top 5% (2016) to top 21% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
60th of 246Wake 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202679.7141 of 66278.7%★★★★☆
202585.1110 of 64182.8%★★★★☆
202485.9109 of 64083.0%★★★★☆
202386.498 of 62684.3%★★★★☆
202284.9106 of 62182.9%★★★★☆
202185.795 of 59484.0%★★★★☆
201989.130 of 51494.2%★★★★★
201893.212 of 46997.4%★★★★★
201791.411 of 47697.7%★★★★★
201683.325 of 50795.1%★★★★★
201581.735 of 53193.4%★★★★★
201484.720 of 45195.6%★★★★★
201373.137 of 50592.7%★★★★★
201272.058 of 50288.4%★★★★☆
201181.217 of 50696.6%★★★★★
201081.512 of 49997.6%★★★★★
200980.820 of 49095.9%★★★★★
200879.522 of 47795.4%★★★★★
200782.718 of 45396.0%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202672.299 of 45078.0%★★★★☆
202573.888 of 44080.0%★★★★☆
202476.181 of 43781.5%★★★★☆
202376.980 of 43481.6%★★★★☆
202275.977 of 43082.1%★★★★☆
202180.523 of 36493.7%★★★★★
201985.622 of 36994.0%★★★★★
201886.728 of 35992.2%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202678.429 of 10371.8%★★★★☆
202579.724 of 10677.4%★★★★☆
202481.118 of 10182.2%★★★★☆
202383.911 of 9888.8%★★★★☆
202278.419 of 9179.1%★★★★☆
202177.420 of 8375.9%★★★★☆
201980.713 of 8985.4%★★★★☆
201889.41 of 7798.7%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202291.315 of 33095.5%★★★★★
202191.313 of 33496.1%★★★★★
201998.52 of 36499.5%★★★★★
201873.452 of 34985.1%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202689.115 of 28994.8%★★★★★
202589.914 of 27394.9%★★★★★
202498.93 of 26298.9%★★★★★
202399.74 of 22698.2%★★★★★
202299.25 of 15696.8%★★★★★
202198.14 of 12496.8%★★★★★
201994.15 of 17397.1%★★★★★
201878.220 of 14786.4%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202678.1139 of 62977.9%★★★★☆
202586.886 of 61085.9%★★★★☆
202486.496 of 60284.1%★★★★☆
202386.388 of 58885.0%★★★★☆
202284.790 of 59484.8%★★★★☆
202187.331 of 47593.5%★★★★★
201988.626 of 47594.5%★★★★★
201893.49 of 44998.0%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202175.942 of 33787.5%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202665.5133 of 47471.9%★★★★☆
202577.6100 of 46278.4%★★★★☆
202478.883 of 45481.7%★★★★☆
202383.072 of 44984.0%★★★★☆
202278.980 of 43681.7%★★★★☆
202182.126 of 37093.0%★★★★★
201986.118 of 35494.9%★★★★★
201889.418 of 34094.7%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202661.4196 of 62068.4%★★★☆☆
202569.0143 of 60676.4%★★★★☆
202467.1157 of 61374.4%★★★★☆
202372.5129 of 59778.4%★★★★☆
202262.1153 of 54471.9%★★★★☆
202167.438 of 43291.2%★★★★★
201965.956 of 44687.4%★★★★☆
201880.834 of 42492.0%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202680.2135 of 62478.4%★★★★☆
202582.4125 of 60179.2%★★★★☆
202484.7114 of 60781.2%★★★★☆
202386.2106 of 60282.4%★★★★☆
202284.5107 of 58581.7%★★★★☆
202183.642 of 48191.3%★★★★★
201989.027 of 48894.5%★★★★★
201893.016 of 46396.5%★★★★★

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202631.651 of 7027.1%★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202675.447 of 26582.3%★★★★☆
202586.222 of 25391.3%★★★★★
202489.618 of 26193.1%★★★★★
202388.020 of 24992.0%★★★★★
202293.411 of 22695.1%★★★★★
202174.936 of 19981.9%★★★★☆
201993.19 of 19595.4%★★★★★
201893.06 of 18596.8%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202676.638 of 37289.8%★★★★★
202578.130 of 35291.5%★★★★★
202486.417 of 34995.1%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.8190 of 55165.5%★★★☆☆
202577.2133 of 54275.5%★★★★☆
202476.9133 of 55375.9%★★★★☆
202380.5108 of 53779.9%★★★★☆
202275.6136 of 53474.5%★★★★☆
202177.349 of 43988.8%★★★★☆
201983.435 of 44492.1%★★★★★
201890.118 of 42795.8%★★★★★
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)
Disabled (2022)95th percentile+13 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)95th percentile+16 vs school
Special Education (2026)90th percentile+11 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2021)88th percentile+4 vs school
Multi-racial (2026)82nd percentile+4 vs school
Male (2026)78th percentile~ school
African American (2026)78th percentile~ school
Female (2026)78th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2026)72nd percentile-7 vs school
Asian (2026)72nd percentile-7 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)68th percentile-10 vs school
White (2026)66th percentile-13 vs school
Military Connected (2026)27th percentile-52 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
English II89%+24 vs state
Biology85%+26 vs state
Math III84%+15 vs state
Math I52%+10 vs state

4.0
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a student
Monday, February 20, 2023

Open Quote An extremely mixed school, for better or worse, in its daily and social dynamics. Diverse, many subjects and clubs, free expression as far as remembrance days, several communities for students to join, and many great instructors who teach and communicate with students, with students who respond back and can go through the lessons as they best can, lessons they truly work through. The on-campus security officer from the local police was gracious with me when I sent reports, including white supremacist pencil scribbles in a bathroom I erased them, but I drew them to my best memory on a flash card, and she was glad for the information, smiled, and said thanks. I walked in the middle of a fight just in time to see a staffer harmlessly distance the kids, one I knew who was cordial with me. I regret not finishing that constellation encyclopedia program in a computer class, and I admire kids are pretty colorful in their expression, from dark clothes and pale makeup to a satchel strap reading "high voltage" to vampire fangs. There's shock in several subjects, like trying to yank into the real world by throwing the details in everyone's faces, but it doesn't always help with lessons, nor is it conveyed to help with actually preparing for careers. I rather not say I got "special treatment" avoiding certain material, . There's a level of bullying, and kids split into and change different social groups between grades, but there are venues many students turn to. The crisis intervention is best for familiar disasters, like lab accidents, tornadoes, lockdowns, defibrillator use, ambulances, general counseling, an extent of quick danger and threat response. Complex and dangerous situations, aren't the specialties of all of the staff and students, and the responses can make matters more traumatic, partly because the average diversity of human personalities are present and they don't all sync, but also partly from how everyone chooses to invest focus and hope for solutions and repairing damages. Rules aren't enforced abrasively, from what I remember, but certain rules can seem unreasonable, so the school, students, and families should keep a full, mutual dialogue. The school does come together, as a prayer circle was formed for a young student who sadly died from a car accident nearby, memorials swiftly made. I'm not totally innocent, I provoked kids too much, told kids about my mental health history to the point one student reasonably took it personally and was distraught to tears I wore a hoodie to cover myself until I was warned about suspension, I was paranoid, suicidal, even kept items I'd want to kill myself with, not necessarily contraband on campus, on my person so they wouldn't be found at home and the argument following wouldn't worsen the situation. When I was worried an argument I had with a student would've left me hurting someone, I went to the counselor's I was put on "medical leave" so a suspension wasn't on my record, which could've been handled more to address the crisis instead of quell the emotions, but I've left curriculum, so it doesn't matter now. I was wrongly suspected of stealing a storage drive from a teacher, but the staff were composed about isolating me for questioning despite my amnesia and confusion even now from a reckless psychiatric system and daily situation to match, it wouldn't have easily slipped my mind if I swiped a classroom belonging, and I wouldn't see where it would've gone asking me when I wasn't interested and didn't know much about it. The video of aggressive faculty reaction was released, yes, and that should be owned up to and addressed to mend the literal and figurative wounds and prevent it again where it's direly needed. All around, it's a school to be recognized as what to be expected in a public school with so many different people. I just say make the best of it, take time with friends and working with the staff, and if the school has troubles, come together to fix problems and improve the day by day. People come and go with that, there's always a forum and chance to offer it. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Open Quote Great high School! wonderful teachers and staff!!! Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Panther Creek High

Panther Creek High ranks 141st of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,609 students attended Panther Creek High.

Students at Panther Creek High are 48% Asian, 24% White, 15% African American, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Panther Creek High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alston Ridge Elementary
Elementary : Brier Creek Elementary
Elementary : Cedar Fork Elementary
Elementary : Highcroft Elementary
Elementary : Mills Park Elementary
Middle : Mills Park Middle

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 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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