By type & area
Independent & Non-Religious Schools in Cary, Apex & Morrisville
17 independent & non-religious schools in Cary, Apex & Morrisville, 6 of them on the 2026-27 Direct Payment list. Western Wake's fast-growing suburbs, with two big parish schools, Cary Academy and Cary Christian, Thales campuses in Apex, a Lutheran K-8 and many small Montessori and early-learning programs.
About this data. School facts come from the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24, plus 2021-22 rows for schools that skipped the latest round). The Direct Payment flag comes from matching names, by county and with code, against the NCSEAA Direct Payment Schools table for 2026-27, downloaded October 30, 2026. Schools found only on the state list show a name and town and nothing else. Neither source reports tuition, so ask the school.
Funding note: This group splits sharply. Ravenscroft, Durham Academy, Cary Academy and Duke School were not on the 2026-27 list; Thales and many small independents were.
| School | Affiliation | Area | Grades | Direct Payment 2026-27 | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerator School 111 Competition Center Dr, Morrisville 27560 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | 6-12 | ✓ Listed | 52 |
| Cary Academy 1500 N Harrison Ave, Cary 27513 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | 6-12 | Not listed | 789 |
| Chesterbrook Academy Preschool and Elementary (Cary) 130 Towne Village Dr, Cary 27513 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-8 | ✓ Listed | 193 |
| Discovery Child Development Center 11000 Lake Grove Blvd, Morrisville 27560 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-K | Not listed | 5 |
| Knowledge Beginnings School 250 Cornerstone Dr, Cary 27519 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | K | Not listed | 10 |
| Lucy Daniels School 9003 Weston Pkwy, Cary 27513 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-5 | ✓ Listed | 16 |
| Mariposa School 203 Gregson Dr, Cary 27511 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | 4-12 | ✓ Listed | 14 |
| Montessori Creative Learning School 402 Upchurch St, Apex 27502 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-K | Not listed | 4 |
| Peace Montessori School 2190 N Salem St #103, Apex 27523 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-2 | Not listed | 9 |
| Primrose Schools at the Park 405 Crescendo Dr, Morrisville 27560 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-K | Not listed | 17 |
| Renaissance Montessori School of Cary 610 Nottingham Dr, Cary 27511 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-K | Not listed | 39 |
| Scholars Academy Gifted and Artistically Elite 3791 Nw Cary Pkwy, Cary 27513 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | 1-12 | Not listed | 35 |
| Thales Academy Apex (Junior High & High School) 1300 N Salem St, Apex 27502 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | 6-12 | ✓ Listed | 653 |
| Thales Academy Apex (K-5) 1177 Ambergate Sta, Apex 27502 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | K-5 | ✓ Listed | 550 |
| The Grove School of Cary 2590 Laura Duncan Rd, Cary 27513 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | K | Not listed | 11 |
| Triangle Montessori Academy 550 E Chatham St, Cary 27511 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | PK-6 | Not listed | 76 |
| True Abilities Learning Academy 1152 Executive Cir, Cary 27511 | Independent | Cary, Apex & Morrisville | — | Not listed | 19 |
| A ✓ on the Direct Payment column tells you | It does not tell you |
|---|---|
| NCSEAA can send Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ money to this school for 2026-27 | That a seat is open or that your child will be admitted |
| The award goes to required tuition and fees, up to your tier amount | That the award will cover the full bill |
| The school accepted NCSEAA's testing and audit rules for scholarship students | Whether the school is accredited, which the state table does not show |
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