Alston Ridge Middle

Summary:

Alston Ridge Middle is a public middle school in Cary, North Carolina, serving 1,459 students in grades 6-8. This school stands out as an exceptional institution, consistently ranking among the top 5% of middle schools in the state and delivering outstanding academic performance across all grade levels and subject areas.

Alston Ridge Middle's academic excellence is evident in its consistently high proficiency rates, which significantly exceed the state and Wake County Schools district averages. For instance, in the 2023-2024 school year, 82% of 6th-grade students were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 66.7% in the district and 54.3% statewide. The school's diverse student population, with a significant Asian student representation, is unique compared to nearby schools, which tend to have a more homogeneous racial composition. Alston Ridge Middle also excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, including female students, male students, Asian students, African American students, multi-racial students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities, often ranking among the top schools in North Carolina for these subgroups.

Interestingly, Alston Ridge Middle has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 8.89% to 20.01% over the past three school years, which is significantly lower than the nearby schools. While socioeconomic status is not the sole determinant of academic success, this factor may contribute to the school's exceptional performance. Overall, Alston Ridge Middle's exceptional academic achievements, diverse student population, and equitable outcomes for all students make it a standout institution within the Wake County Schools district and the state of North Carolina.

Detail:

Public 6-8

7833 Fussell Avenue
Cary, NC 27519

(919) 694-8044

District: Wake County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
36^th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 18.6

Number of students: 1,459

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

47.4%

White:

24.7%

African American:

12.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 20%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Alston Ridge Middle ranks better than 95.5% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.22. (See more...)

Student Body

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Teachers

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Alston Ridge Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Alston Ridge Middle 36^th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Alston Ridge 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 59^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Alston Ridge Middle

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Rank History for all students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	94.70	35^th	741	95.3%
2022	94.31	36^th	786	95.4%
2023	94.44	30^th	784	96.2%
2024	94.22	36^th	793	95.5%

See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	96.75	5^th	248	98.0%
2022	96.50	8^th	283	97.2%
2023	87.27	24^th	302	92.1%
2024	84.17	29^th	306	90.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	94.36	5^th	236	97.9%
2022	98.70	4^th	312	98.7%
2023	91.28	13^th	318	95.9%
2024	94.06	9^th	356	97.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	86.93	18^th	473	96.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	74.10	101^st	633	84.0%
2022	70.84	123^rd	689	82.1%
2023	81.47	78^th	735	89.4%
2024	82.00	73^rd	743	90.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	93.05	39^th	706	94.5%
2022	93.57	36^th	733	95.1%
2023	93.35	36^th	731	95.1%
2024	93.71	33^rd	738	95.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	90.36	11^th	478	97.7%
2022	96.92	6^th	449	98.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	79.59	18^th	448	96.0%
2022	74.16	41^st	450	90.9%
2023	76.16	29^th	452	93.6%
2024	78.23	6^th	461	98.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	95.16	30^th	711	95.8%
2022	94.23	35^th	748	95.3%
2023	94.61	26^th	747	96.5%
2024	93.81	36^th	751	95.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	78.89	27^th	99	72.7%
2022	78.78	30^th	109	72.5%
2023	79.97	29^th	110	73.6%
2024	80.32	26^th	110	76.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	91.17	28^th	533	94.7%
2022	91.84	33^rd	550	94.0%
2023	93.06	29^th	559	94.8%
2024	90.06	38^th	560	93.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	65.39	119^th	522	77.2%
2022	69.78	107^th	541	80.2%
2023	67.79	130^th	553	76.5%
2024	64.17	149^th	564	73.6%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Alston Ridge Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	87.19	70^th	632	88.9%
2022	85.22	81^st	658	87.7%
2023	86.22	69^th	656	89.5%
2024	87.59	67^th	652	89.7%

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.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)

25%

75%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, May 16, 2022

We have had problems with this school from the first semester my child was there. The amount of bullying, disrespect and aggressive behavior that goes on is unacceptable. The school principals and staff tries but they are not able to control these kids. My child has received threats, and have been cyber bullied, she got punched by a boy and all they did was call him and tell him to stay away from her. I have no idea what else needs to happen for someone to take action,I mean , we had to do a police report about that first incident, for God's sake! That's how bad it was. The worse experience I've ever had with public school , period. Would not recommend at all. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 20, 2021

This school teaches LGBTQ abomination things and is not good if you are a muslim or a christian person Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Don’t go here if you are super liberal. Focus way to much on race. And teaching white people are the enemy. Close Quote

by a citizen
Sunday, March 21, 2021

Great school. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, July 31, 2020

BAD BAD BAD BAD. THEY FEED MY CHILDREN LITERAL GARBAGE FOOD. NO RECESS OR SOCIAL TIME AT ALL??? BAD!!! Close Quote

by a student
Monday, May 18, 2020

This school trash. MEAN STAFF Close Quote

by a student
Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Nah, don't go here. Go to a better school. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Alston Ridge Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2020	279	119	357	101	6	30	892
2021	359	150	525	149	4	46	1233
2022	360	186	595	139	3	45	1328
2023	360	184	691	154	5	65	1459

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 Alston Ridge Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	892	55.9	15.9	16.6
2021	1233	67.0	18.4	14.4
2022	1328	68.5	19.3	8.9
2023	1459	78.4	18.6	20

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 Alston Ridge Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	892	55.9	15.9	16.6
2021	1233	67.0	18.4	14.4
2022	1328	68.5	19.3	8.9
2023	1459	78.4	18.6	20

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.

Schools Near Alston Ridge Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOG Mathematics (2024)			EOG Reading (2024)			EOG Science (2024)	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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Alston Ridge Middle	Public	6-8	7833 Fussell Avenue	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8044	1,459	78	18.6	20.0%	360 (24.7%)	184 (12.6%)	154 (10.6%)	691 (47.4%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (4.5%)	94.2	36^th of 793 public middle schools	95.5%		94.4	30^th of 784 public middle schools	96.2%	6	82.0	84.3	75.5	75.6	78.3	82.0	90.0
Mills Park Middle	Public	6-8	441 Mills Park Drive	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 466-1500	1,630	85	19.1	6.3%	538 (33.0%)	76 (4.7%)	115 (7.1%)	848 (52.0%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (3.1%)	99	2^nd of 793 public middle schools	99.7%		99	3^rd of 784 public middle schools	99.6%	1	95.4		95.6	89.7	90.2	90.7		$7,648	$376	$7,272
Lowe's Grove Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4418 S Alston Avenue	Durham	27713	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3946	700	47	15.0	74.9%	35 (5.0%)	376 (53.7%)	236 (33.7%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (6.3%)	9.1	743^rd of 793 public middle schools	6.3%		15	692^nd of 784 public middle schools	11.7%	51	18.0	28.6	16.1	17.8	26.7	28.6	41.3	$11,779	$1,431	$10,349
Davis Drive Middle	Public	6-8	2101 Davis Drive	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-3033	959	57	16.8	12.3%	396 (41.3%)	47 (4.9%)	93 (9.7%)	386 (40.3%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	32 (3.3%)	96.6	21^st of 793 public middle schools	97.4%		96.9	14^th of 784 public middle schools	98.2%	7	95.3	89.2	87.5	84.4	85.1	80.4	91.8	$7,994	$391	$7,602
West Cary Middle	Public	6-8	1000 Evans Road	Cary	27513	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 460-3528	860	51	16.8	25.6%	270 (31.4%)	130 (15.1%)	105 (12.2%)	327 (38.0%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	22 (2.6%)	89.2	69^th of 793 public middle schools	91.3%		90.5	61^st of 784 public middle schools	92.2%	8	76.4	77.7	74.4	68.8	69.6	70.2	86.6	$7,509	$324	$7,185
Salem Middle	Public	6-8	6150 Old Jenks Road	Apex	27523	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 363-1870	1,071	64	16.6	20.2%	592 (55.3%)	80 (7.5%)	159 (14.8%)	196 (18.3%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	39 (3.6%)	91.2	55^th of 793 public middle schools	93.1%		91.6	55^th of 784 public middle schools	93.0%		85.2	77.4	77.4	71.9	72.1	73.4	85.1	$9,372	$511	$8,861
Sherwood Githens Middle	Public	6-8	4800 Chapel Hill Road	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3966	763	52	14.8	57.1%	199 (26.1%)	232 (30.4%)	259 (33.9%)	25 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (6.2%)	42.8	463^rd of 793 public middle schools	41.6%		50.8	371^st of 784 public middle schools	52.7%	92	52.6	46.5	40.9	45.0	48.1	44.9	56.8	$10,235	$1,013	$9,222
James E Shepard Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2401 Dakota Street	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3938	381	32	12.0	75.6%	9 (2.4%)	235 (61.7%)	126 (33.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	47.7	416^th of 793 public middle schools	47.5%		50.2	378^th of 784 public middle schools	51.8%	38	48.4	39.0	62.2	47.6	48.5	46.2	62.2	$11,998	$1,606	$10,392
Reedy Creek Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	930 Reedy Creek Road	Cary	27513	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 460-3504	768	55	14.0	39.8%	316 (41.1%)	170 (22.1%)	157 (20.4%)	95 (12.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.6%)	76.7	155^th of 793 public middle schools	80.5%		75.3	170^th of 784 public middle schools	78.3%	15	60.7	66.1	59.4	66.3	60.3	59.4	83.1	$9,572	$485	$9,087
Rogers-Herr Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	911 Cornwallis Road	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 560-3970	643	42	15.2	46.2%	169 (26.3%)	260 (40.4%)	164 (25.5%)	17 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.0%)	79.7	134^th of 793 public middle schools	83.1%		82.6	115^th of 784 public middle schools	85.3%	19	70.6	69.5	57.3	68.0	67.3	58.9	78.1	$11,594	$781	$10,812

Frequently Asked Questions about Alston Ridge Middle

How many students attend Alston Ridge Middle?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,459 students attended Alston Ridge Middle.

What district is Alston Ridge Middle in?

Wake County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Alston Ridge Middle?

Students at Alston Ridge Middle are 47% Asian, 25% White, 13% African American, 11% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Is Alston Ridge Middle a good school?

Yes! Alston Ridge Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 36^th 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.