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Mills Park Middle

Public Grades 6-8
5th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 773 North Carolina Middle Schools
Better than 99% of North Carolina middle schools
Summary

Mills Park Middle is a highly-ranked public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Cary, North Carolina, part of the Wake County Schools district.

Mills Park Middle consistently outperforms state and district averages in standardized test scores across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 96.2% of 6th-grade students and 95.3% of 8th-grade students were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 67.7% and 60.7% for the Wake County Schools district, respectively. The school also excels in serving students from diverse backgrounds, ranking within the top 10 in North Carolina for several student subgroups. Additionally, Mills Park Middle maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 17.7 to 19.1 over the past few years.

While Mills Park Middle outperforms the state and district averages, some nearby schools, such as Davis Drive Middle and Apex Friendship Middle, also demonstrate high academic achievement and are ranked among the top middle schools in North Carolina. This suggests a strong educational ecosystem in the Cary/Apex area. The relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Mills Park Middle may indicate that the school serves a more affluent student population compared to some of the nearby schools, which could contribute to its high academic performance.

1,632
Students ?
18.7
Student/teacher ratio ?
$7,648
Per pupil spending ?
7.6%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 441 Mills Park Drive
       Cary, NC  27519

(919) 466-1500

District: Wake County Schools


Students who attend Mills Park Middle usually attend:

High:    Panther Creek High
    Wake Early College of Health and Science
    Wake STEM Early College High School
    Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
    More...

Feeder schools for Mills Park Middle:

Elementary:    Alston Ridge Elementary
    Brier Creek Elementary
    Highcroft Elementary
    Mills Park Elementary
Racial breakdown:

Asian:
54.7%
White:
29.4%
Hispanic:
6.9%
more
 See top rated North Carolina middle schools

 Compare Mills Park Middle to nearby middle schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the North Carolina average (94% vs 54% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 1% of North Carolina middle schools
Among the top-ranked schools in Wake County Schools
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school94%
District avg64%
North Carolina avg54%
5th of 773
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 1%▲ up 3 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
1st of 38Middle Schools in the Wake County Schools
60th 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202598.75 of 77399.4%★★★★★
202499.02 of 79399.7%★★★★★
202399.03 of 78499.6%★★★★★
202298.85 of 78699.4%★★★★★
202199.26 of 74199.2%★★★★★
201997.39 of 73798.8%★★★★★
201897.39 of 69198.7%★★★★★
201797.28 of 69498.8%★★★★★
201695.321 of 69297.0%★★★★★
201594.723 of 70596.7%★★★★★
201495.520 of 62796.8%★★★★★
201396.418 of 67397.3%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202598.610 of 54698.2%★★★★★
202496.818 of 56096.8%★★★★★
202393.726 of 55995.3%★★★★★
202296.913 of 55097.6%★★★★★
202197.713 of 53397.6%★★★★★
201996.712 of 51997.7%★★★★★
201895.713 of 49497.4%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202587.26 of 11194.6%★★★★★
202487.24 of 11096.4%★★★★★
202384.77 of 11093.6%★★★★★
202285.410 of 10990.8%★★★★★
202186.412 of 9987.9%★★★★☆
201985.110 of 10290.2%★★★★★
201888.81 of 9598.9%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202297.83 of 44999.3%★★★★★
202191.79 of 47898.1%★★★★★
201999.02 of 50499.6%★★★★★
201898.72 of 47599.6%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202596.87 of 37198.1%★★★★★
202493.610 of 35697.2%★★★★★
202398.17 of 31897.8%★★★★★
202290.515 of 31295.2%★★★★★
202196.64 of 23698.3%★★★★★
201999.91 of 21199.5%★★★★★
201895.83 of 15198.0%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202598.63 of 73399.6%★★★★★
202498.83 of 73899.6%★★★★★
202398.93 of 73199.6%★★★★★
202298.74 of 73399.5%★★★★★
202199.15 of 70699.3%★★★★★
201996.87 of 68499.0%★★★★★
201896.47 of 65698.9%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202575.645 of 45890.2%★★★★★
202473.845 of 46190.2%★★★★★
202375.235 of 45292.3%★★★★★
202273.844 of 45090.2%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202597.49 of 56298.4%★★★★★
202497.813 of 56497.7%★★★★★
202397.010 of 55398.2%★★★★★
202292.824 of 54195.6%★★★★★
202195.411 of 52297.9%★★★★★
201996.210 of 49398.0%★★★★★
201897.18 of 47298.3%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202595.417 of 72997.7%★★★★★
202494.919 of 74397.4%★★★★★
202388.837 of 73595.0%★★★★★
202286.646 of 68993.3%★★★★★
202194.811 of 63398.3%★★★★★
201988.634 of 63994.7%★★★★★
201885.035 of 60494.2%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202598.54 of 73399.5%★★★★★
202499.13 of 75199.6%★★★★★
202398.82 of 74799.7%★★★★★
202297.513 of 74898.3%★★★★★
202199.07 of 71199.0%★★★★★
201997.39 of 69798.7%★★★★★
201897.84 of 66599.4%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202598.41 of 32899.7%★★★★★
202498.41 of 30699.7%★★★★★
202398.23 of 30299.0%★★★★★
202299.11 of 28399.6%★★★★★
202199.21 of 24899.6%★★★★★
201992.96 of 23797.5%★★★★★
201893.44 of 22198.2%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202599.33 of 47899.4%★★★★★
202499.91 of 47399.8%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202594.611 of 64998.3%★★★★★
202496.19 of 65298.6%★★★★★
202395.79 of 65698.6%★★★★★
202294.817 of 65897.4%★★★★★
202196.713 of 63297.9%★★★★★
201994.716 of 62497.4%★★★★★
201894.514 of 59697.7%★★★★★
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)
Multi-racial (2025)100th percentile~ school
Female (2025)100th percentile~ school
Male (2025)99th percentile~ school
Special Education (2025)99th percentile~ school
Disabled (2022)99th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)98th percentile~ school
White (2025)98th percentile~ school
African American (2025)98th percentile~ school
English Language Learner (2025)98th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile~ school
Asian (2025)95th percentile-5 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)90th percentile-9 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?
Mathematics96%+43 vs state
Science96%+36 vs state
Reading92%+39 vs state

3.5
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
50
41
31
20
10
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What people are saying
by a student
Friday, February 17, 2023

Open Quote I was there for its first two years, it's a pretty adequate school, even through its times of trying to repair a sinkhole right through half of the turn into the parking lot. There were lots of engaging subjects and after school clubs and groups, kids either got along or were able to acclimate and be around each other day by day, fights were broken up and crises were handled briskly and professionally, even its first talent show was a blast despite its numerous hiccups. There were bonds, stable dynamics, the kids supported each other even at award ceremonies, and I'm talking diverse populations of students here. I mean, it was middle school, many people split up, but there was a level of individualized capability and hope. A lockdown during a bank hostage crisis within walking distance, which went on longer for the elementary kids across the street, was handled very well, and despite many people not wanting to talk about it, the tragedy does need closure in its own regards. Things I hope have been improved upon over the years include, but are not limited to, taking things too personally and high emotion, be it students or staff, poor guidance about "surviving" at times when it's not how everyone best works through problems, a noticeable level of bullying that, thankfully, didn't worsen or become an epidemic across the school while I was there, strain and stress in the expanse of and projects in various subjects (I went numb for months in the 8th grade, through the winter, I recall), cases of addressing kids at times as being more competent and rebellious than they really were, and lessons dragging on from restless and even some loud students. Many of the above are expected reactions from a public building filled with varied personalities, and I admit my own guilt is in and/or outside of the above as well (it was a different decade, I barely remember much), but who and what slips through the cracks always has a chance for solutions and closure, so I hope everyone's keeping tabs and walking through to get to the end. I hope it's been doing great since it may not be perfect, but I can only imagine how many people attribute great experiences to the school. I remember a great library, really courteous kids having fun at the dance, pep rallies to get energy out of everyone's systems, and a lot of fun in stage productions together. On the downside, I know kids were nervous about each other, I was way too heightened and annoyed and perturbed several kids, to put it lightly. I also remember a stall with a bad lock and a line of kids seeing my crotch because one of them was prying open the door, but now I'm just wondering how many of them have to retort to the mocking retaliations of "are you gay or not", and I'm not talking about on the campus. I mean, really, we can repair damages of unfinished business if we're not over it, and I'm right here for that. But you all keep up your own dialogues, kids and adults alike, make your own opinions and make the school what you all need out of it. Close Quote


by a student
Monday, April 17, 2017

Open Quote This school is pretty good. Most of the teachers are great, but in my opinion, sometimes they can be either a little strict or give out a lot of work (or both). But then again, that's just me. Overall, they all push you to work hard and sometimes make the class fun through the different activities we do. But, it seems like the teachers don't notice how some of the kids say some pretty bad things and none of them get into trouble (unless someone decides to tell a teacher). The cafeteria also serves disgusting, low quality food. The pizza just looks like they put sauce and cheese and slapped it onto a piece of stale bread. For the cheese quesadillas, all they do is get these disgusting and stale tortillas (almost as hard as a rock), and put cheese and their chicken nuggets (which are breaded, and nobody puts that in a quesadilla) in them. The meat tastes weird as well. Overall, the teachers and lessons are good, the kids can get away with bullying, and the food is awful. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Mills Park Middle

Students who attend Mills Park Middle usually go on to attend Panther Creek High

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,632 students attended Mills Park Middle.

Yes! Mills Park Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 5th of 773 North Carolina middle schools.

Students at Mills Park Middle are 55% Asian, 29% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% African American, 3% Two or more races.


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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.





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