It was founded in 2002 as the Raleigh Elite, and the current affiliate of North Carolina FC, a third division club in the United Soccer League.

Raleigh enjoyed a brief foray into the US Open Cup thanks to their positive early season form, knocking out D3 Pro League side Carolina Dynamo 5–2 in the first round before losing 3–0 to A-League stalwarts Richmond Kickers in the second.

Raleigh Elite finished third in the Mid Atlantic Division in 2003, with an 8–8–2 record, 17 points behind divisional champions Richmond Kickers Future.

That year, Aaron King was Raleigh's top scorer, with ten goals, while Spencer Wadsworth contributed an impressive eight assists.

Prior to the beginning of the 2006 season, the CASL organization severed ties with them, and the team was taken over by the Morrisville, North Carolina–based Next Level Academy, who renamed it the Raleigh Elite.

In November 2008, Next Level Academy announced a partnership with Burnley Football Club, then a member of the English Championship, in order to jointly develop professional players.

As part of the agreement, the team was renamed the Cary Clarets[2] in USL PD League before withdrawing at the end of the 2009 season.