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Hortons Creek Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

44^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hortons Creek Elementary is a PK-5 school in Cary, NC, serving 739 students as part of Wake County Schools, and it consistently ranks among North Carolina's very best elementary schools. In the 2025–2026 school year, Hortons Creek ranked #44 out of 1,492 elementary schools statewide — the 97th percentile — earning a five-star rating. That continues a six-year run of elite results, including a #14 finish in 2023–2024. The school sits in a neighborhood packed with other top performers: Mills Park Elementary (#27), Highcroft Elementary (#33), and Green Hope Elementary (#71) are all nearby and in the top 5% of the state. Hortons Creek isn't the absolute top school in that cluster, but the gaps are small and the lead changes from year to year.

Academically, Hortons Creek beats both its district and the state by wide margins in every subject. In 2025–2026, about 90% of students were proficient in math and 5th-grade science, and 82% in reading, versus state averages near 64%, 68%, and 56%. Hortons Creek also tops the combined average of its seven closest Wake County elementary peers in each subject. Attendance is a genuine edge: just 7.5% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, compared with 20.5% for Wake County Schools and 24.2% statewide. Yet Hortons Creek does this while spending less per student ($7,977) than most nearby schools. Its 11.5% free/reduced-price lunch rate is typical of its high-performing neighborhood, while nearby Durham schools like Parkwood Elementary and Lyons Farm Elementary serve far higher-need communities.

A few nuances are worth monitoring. Third-grade reading proficiency (77%) trails third-grade math (90%) by roughly 13 points, though reading still far exceeds district and state norms. Statewide subgroup rankings for African American students and students from low-income households slipped from near the 97th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 82nd and 80th percentiles in 2025–2026 — strong results in absolute terms, but a sign that excellence doesn't reach every group equally every year. Most notably, the school's identified gifted students ranked in only the 24th percentile statewide, a sharp drop from the 76th percentile. That could suggest the highest-achieving learners aren't always being challenged enough.

739

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

11.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

7615 O'Kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519

(919) 694-8660

District: Wake County Schools

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

50.3%

White:

28.4%

African American:

10.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hortons Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 90th percentile in 2019 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (87% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2019

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school87%

District avg70%

North Carolina avg61%

44^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 8 pts since 2019

From top 10% (2019) to top 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

60^th 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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	94.9	44 of 1492	97.1%	★★★★★
2025	96.7	25 of 1490	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	14 of 1505	99.1%	★★★★★
2023	94.2	57 of 1502	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	96.1	29 of 1514	98.1%	★★★★★
2021	92.1	93 of 1489	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	86.0	154 of 1473	89.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	162 of 903	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	94.8	26 of 918	97.2%	★★★★★
2024	84.3	76 of 924	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	66.2	243 of 933	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	80.7	95 of 927	89.8%	★★★★☆
2021	83.0	87 of 896	90.3%	★★★★★
2019	52.5	405 of 949	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.5	90 of 927	90.3%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.6	20 of 134	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	80.1	13 of 131	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	79.3	14 of 130	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	76.0	27 of 114	76.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	25 of 107	76.6%	★★★★☆
2021	64.3	48 of 95	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.8	44 of 106	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.0	20 of 99	79.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	74.9	115 of 878	86.9%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	95.2	13 of 497	97.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	94.0	47 of 1447	96.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.5	31 of 1451	97.9%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	12 of 1455	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	28 of 1459	98.1%	★★★★★
2022	95.6	27 of 1458	98.1%	★★★★★
2021	91.6	84 of 1440	94.2%	★★★★★
2019	87.5	106 of 1424	92.6%	★★★★★
2018	88.7	96 of 1405	93.2%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.3	561 of 743	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	67.5	158 of 669	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	58.6	310 of 582	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.8	130 of 500	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	48.6	346 of 494	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.3	192 of 612	68.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	95.2	21 of 893	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	93.2	23 of 865	97.3%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	17 of 851	98.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.2	280 of 1434	80.5%	★★★★☆
2025	92.7	36 of 1437	97.5%	★★★★★
2024	85.4	93 of 1450	93.6%	★★★★★
2023	59.7	498 of 1437	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.1	674 of 1361	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.0	343 of 1332	74.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	92.6	55 of 1451	96.2%	★★★★★
2025	96.5	23 of 1450	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	14 of 1464	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	79 of 1461	94.6%	★★★★★
2022	95.0	41 of 1464	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	90.3	101 of 1444	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	81.8	195 of 1430	86.4%	★★★★☆
2018	88.5	113 of 1413	92.0%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	80.7	15 of 103	85.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	86.7	90 of 1146	92.1%	★★★★★
2025	88.4	78 of 1172	93.3%	★★★★★
2024	89.6	64 of 1166	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	85.8	112 of 1183	90.5%	★★★★★
2022	92.2	34 of 1194	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	68.6	329 of 1172	71.9%	★★★★☆
2019	81.3	167 of 1183	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	78.3	214 of 1178	81.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2022)98th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2019)97th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)97th percentile~ school

Male (2026)96th percentile~ school

White (2026)92nd percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2019)87th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)85th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2026)85th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2026)82nd percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)80th percentile-17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)24th percentile-73 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science90%+22 vs state

Mathematics90%+27 vs state

Reading82%+26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Hortons Creek Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hortons Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7615 O'Kelly Chapel Rd	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8660	739	47	15.6	11.5%	210 (28.4%)	78 (10.6%)	54 (7.3%)	372 (50.3%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.7%)	94.9	44^th of 1492 public elementary schools	97.1%		96.7	25^th of 1490 public elementary schools	98.3%	19	89.8	90.4	90.1	77.1	85.2	84.7	90.1	$7,977	$280	$7,697
Alston Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11555 Green Level Church Rd.	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 544-2474	917	66	13.9	17.8%	171 (18.6%)	120 (13.1%)	81 (8.8%)	501 (54.6%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (4.3%)	88.9	132^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	91.2%		84	190^th of 1490 public elementary schools	87.2%	58	79.7	80.3	83.3	74.8	77.7	76.7	85.3	$8,773	$530	$8,243
Mills Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	509 Mills Park Dr	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 466-1466	594	42	14.2	17.7%	194 (32.7%)	28 (4.7%)	84 (14.1%)	278 (46.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.7%)	95.9	27^th of 1492 public elementary schools	98.2%		96.8	23^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	98.5%	4	94.8	89.8	92.1	87.5	86.4	84.2	87.7	$8,738	$372	$8,366
Lyons Farm Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	906 Scott King Rd	Durham	27713	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(919) 560-9449	608	38	16.0	—	292 (48.0%)	155 (25.5%)	66 (10.9%)	35 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (9.9%)	76.8	283^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	81.0%		78.4	273^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	81.7%	10	77.4	70.2	71.1	74.5	77.7	60.2	71.1
Parkside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	332 Parkside Valley Dr	Morrisville	27560	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-7888	730	51	14.3	21.9%	161 (22.1%)	91 (12.5%)	71 (9.7%)	364 (49.9%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.3%)	90.5	110^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.6%		92	81^st of 1490 public elementary schools	94.6%	29	86.6	80.5	81.1	80.4	82.1	79.5	81.8
Carpenter Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Morrisville Parkway	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 462-6780	604	44	13.7	28.8%	144 (23.8%)	42 (7.0%)	138 (22.8%)	262 (43.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.8%)	88.2	144^th of 1492 public elementary schools	90.3%		82.4	208^th of 1490 public elementary schools	86.0%	64	79.2	84.4	80.9	71.9	79.2	77.3	82.7	$9,401	$613	$8,788
Highcroft Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5415 Highcroft Drive	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 460-3527	698	45	15.6	9.2%	210 (30.1%)	41 (5.9%)	42 (6.0%)	355 (50.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.9%)	95.6	33^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	97.8%		96.8	24^th of 1490 public elementary schools	98.4%	9	96.9	86.8	91.6	82.0	84.3	83.2	90.1	$8,277	$370	$7,907
Parkwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5207 Revere Road	Durham	27713	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3962	491	35	13.8	—	57 (11.6%)	271 (55.2%)	98 (20.0%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (11.4%)	10.1	1420^th of 1492 public elementary schools	4.8%		12.5	1383^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	7.2%	37	31.0	23.3	31.3	34.5	33.3	40.0	52.3	$11,377	$1,372	$10,005
Green Hope Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 Louis Stephens Drive	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 388-5270	548	36	15.2	14.4%	171 (31.2%)	40 (7.3%)	51 (9.3%)	270 (49.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.7%)	92.9	71^st of 1492 public elementary schools	95.2%		94.5	55^th of 1490 public elementary schools	96.3%	16	82.8	86.7	90.8	77.4	83.3	81.7	87.2	$8,968	$486	$8,482
Cedar Fork Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1050 Town Hall Drive	Morrisville	27560	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 388-5240	778	55	14.1	17.0%	115 (14.8%)	57 (7.3%)	59 (7.6%)	516 (66.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.6%)	91.9	88^th of 1492 public elementary schools	94.1%		88.3	134^th of 1490 public elementary schools	91.0%	46	87.5	79.0	89.6	80.5	76.6	83.4	84.7	$8,320	$370	$7,950

Frequently Asked Questions about Hortons Creek Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Hortons Creek Elementary?

Students at Hortons Creek Elementary are 50% Asian, 28% White, 11% African American, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Hortons Creek Elementary a good school?

Yes! Hortons Creek Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 44^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Hortons Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 739 students attended Hortons Creek Elementary.

What district is Hortons Creek Elementary in?

Wake County Schools

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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.