Mills Park Middle

Summary:

Mills Park Middle is a highly-ranked public middle school in Cary, North Carolina, serving around 1,630 students in grades 6-8. It is part of the Wake County Schools district, which is ranked 59th out of 242 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Mills Park Middle consistently ranks among the top middle schools in North Carolina, with exceptional academic achievement. Its students demonstrate proficiency rates in mathematics and reading that significantly exceed the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 95.4% of 6th graders and 95.6% of 8th graders were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 54.3% and 46.9% statewide, respectively. The school also has a diverse student population, with a significant Asian student population and a relatively even distribution of other racial groups, which is unique compared to many nearby schools. Additionally, Mills Park Middle excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking highly for its performance with students of different genders, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

While Mills Park Middle stands out as a top-performing school, the nearby schools in the Wake County district also demonstrate strong academic performance, with several other highly-ranked middle schools in the area, such as East Cary Middle, Apex Friendship Middle, and Apex Middle. This suggests that the district as a whole is committed to providing high-quality education to its students. However, the low poverty rates at Mills Park Middle, compared to the higher rates at nearby schools, may contribute to the school's academic success, highlighting the potential impact of socioeconomic factors on student achievement and the importance of addressing educational equity across all schools in the district.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 441 Mills Park Drive
       Cary, NC  27519


(919) 466-1500

District: Wake County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
2nd of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,648 Help


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

Student/teacher ratio:  18.5 Help
Number of students:  1,628

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
54.7%
White:
29.7%
Hispanic:
7.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  6.9% Help


 See top rated North Carolina middle schools

 Compare Mills Park Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Mills Park Middle ranks better than 99.7% of middle schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 38 ranked middle schools in the Wake County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 99.05. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Mills Park Middle has the largest middle school student body size in the Wake County Schools District. Racial makeup is: Asian (54.7%), White (29.7%), Hispanic (7.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 6.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Wake County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mills Park Middle is 18.5, which is the highest among 38 middle schools in the Wake County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Mills Park Middle employs 88 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mills Park Middle is $7,648. 36 middle schools in the Wake County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Mills Park Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Mills Park Middle 2nd of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Mills Park Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Wake County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Wake County Schools 59th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Mills Park Middle?

Rank History for Mills Park Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2013 96.40 18th 673 97.3%
2014 95.48 20th 627 96.8%
2015 94.67 23rd 705 96.7%
2016 95.28 21st 692 97.0%
2017 97.21 8th 694 98.8%
2018 97.31 9th 691 98.7%
2019 97.28 9th 737 98.8%
2021 99.21 6th 741 99.2%
2022 98.78 5th 786 99.4%
2023 98.97 3rd 784 99.6%
2024 99.05 2nd 793 99.7%
See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.44 4th 221 98.2%
2019 92.90 6th 237 97.5%
2021 99.15 1st 248 99.6%
2022 99.12 1st 283 99.6%
2023 98.16 3rd 302 99.0%
2024 98.42 1st 306 99.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.79 3rd 151 98.0%
2019 99.90 1st 211 99.5%
2021 96.56 4th 236 98.3%
2022 90.48 15th 312 95.2%
2023 98.10 7th 318 97.8%
2024 93.59 10th 356 97.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 99.90 1st 473 99.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.97 35th 604 94.2%
2019 88.63 34th 639 94.7%
2021 94.79 11th 633 98.3%
2022 86.60 46th 689 93.3%
2023 88.80 37th 735 95.0%
2024 94.86 19th 743 97.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.37 7th 656 98.9%
2019 96.82 7th 684 99.0%
2021 99.14 5th 706 99.3%
2022 98.66 4th 733 99.5%
2023 98.86 3rd 731 99.6%
2024 98.80 3rd 738 99.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.70 2nd 475 99.6%
2019 98.98 2nd 504 99.6%
2021 91.67 9th 478 98.1%
2022 97.82 3rd 449 99.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 73.80 44th 450 90.2%
2023 75.23 35th 452 92.3%
2024 73.76 45th 461 90.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.80 4th 665 99.4%
2019 97.35 9th 697 98.7%
2021 99.01 7th 711 99.0%
2022 97.50 13th 748 98.3%
2023 98.76 2nd 747 99.7%
2024 99.09 3rd 751 99.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.76 1st 95 98.9%
2019 85.09 10th 102 90.2%
2021 86.39 12th 99 87.9%
2022 85.39 10th 109 90.8%
2023 84.72 7th 110 93.6%
2024 87.17 4th 110 96.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.71 13th 494 97.4%
2019 96.67 12th 519 97.7%
2021 97.72 13th 533 97.6%
2022 96.86 13th 550 97.6%
2023 93.73 26th 559 95.3%
2024 96.77 18th 560 96.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.09 8th 472 98.3%
2019 96.20 10th 493 98.0%
2021 95.41 11th 522 97.9%
2022 92.80 24th 541 95.6%
2023 97.03 10th 553 98.2%
2024 97.79 13th 564 97.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Mills Park Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.55 14th 596 97.7%
2019 94.75 16th 624 97.4%
2021 96.74 13th 632 97.9%
2022 94.81 17th 658 97.4%
2023 95.74 9th 656 98.6%
2024 96.10 9th 652 98.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Mills Park Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.5)
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Reviews:
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



Enrollment information for Mills Park Middle

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2011 621 163 178 89 4 0 46 0 1101
2012 731 180 240 113 2 0 48 0 1314
2013 787 178 281 111 1 0 59 0 1417
2014 886 222 416 134 4 2 85 0 1749
2015 961 216 432 137 5 2 83 0 1836
2016 903 164 469 134 4 1 73 0 1748
2017 847 166 540 135 4 1 63 0 1756
2018 802 153 606 131 5 2 51 0 1750
2019 763 145 679 119 5 3 45 0 1759
2020 703 149 727 100 11 3 53 0 1746
2021 618 128 724 102 10 2 55 0 1639
2022 552 110 779 110 8 1 59 0 1619
2023 538 76 848 115 3 0 50 0 1630
2024 483 88 891 118 0 2 46 0 1628

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Mills Park Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 1101 59.7 18.4 13.7
2012 1314 69.7 18.8 12.5
2013 1417 77.0 18.4 11.4
2014 1749 89.8 19.4 11.1
2015 1836 98.0 18.7 9.4
2016 1748 96.0 18.2 8.9
2017 1756 92.5 18.9 8.3
2018 1750 92.0 19.0 7
2019 1759 91.3 19.2 7
2020 1746 90.0 19.3 6.1
2021 1639 87.0 18.8 5.6
2022 1619 90.9 17.7 4.6
2023 1630 85.0 19.1 6.3
2024 1628 88.0 18.5 6.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Mills Park Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 1101 59.7 18.4 13.7
2012 1314 69.7 18.8 12.5
2013 1417 77.0 18.4 11.4
2014 1749 89.8 19.4 11.1
2015 1836 98.0 18.7 9.4
2016 1748 96.0 18.2 8.9
2017 1756 92.5 18.9 8.3
2018 1750 92.0 19.0 7
2019 1759 91.3 19.2 7
2020 1746 90.0 19.3 6.1
2021 1639 87.0 18.8 5.6
2022 1619 90.9 17.7 4.6
2023 1630 85.0 19.1 6.3
2024 1628 88.0 18.5 6.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Mills Park Middle

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $376 (4.9%) $7,272 (95.1%) $7,648

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mills Park Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 9th of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 3rd of 784 Middle schools
 0.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Mills Park Middle)94.294.1
 0.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)66.163.8
 2.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Mills Park Middle)91.690.2
 1.4%
   6th Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)67.861.6
 6.2%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mills Park Middle)93.194.8
 1.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)6662.3
 3.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Mills Park Middle)90.490.8
 0.4%
   7th Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)67.361.6
 5.7%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mills Park Middle)89.193.7
 4.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)59.657
 2.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.644.8
 7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Mills Park Middle)87.288.8
 1.6%
   8th Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)64.860.9
 3.9%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.651
 4.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students17591630
 7.3%
African American14576
 47.6%
American Indian53
 40%
Asian679848
 24.9%
Hispanic119115
 3.4%
Pacific Islander30
 100%
White763538
 29.5%
Two or More Races4550
 11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients7%6.3%
 0.7%


Schools Near Mills Park Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Mills Park Middle

Students at Mills Park Middle are 55% Asian, 30% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% African American, 3% Two or more races.

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

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,628 students attended Mills Park Middle.

Yes! Mills Park Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 2nd of 793 North Carolina middle schools.


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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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