Best Public Schools in Winston Salem, NC

The city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina is home to 64 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, including 35 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 13 high schools, and 4 alternative schools. These schools are part of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district, which is ranked 159 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Several schools in the district stand out for their exceptional performance. Atkins Academic & Technical High is ranked 105 out of 641 high schools in North Carolina and has a 4-star rating, significantly outperforming the district and state averages on end-of-course exams. Meadowlark Middle is ranked 144 out of 773 middle schools and also outperforms the district and state on end-of-grade exams. At the elementary level, Sherwood Forest Elementary is ranked 32 out of 1,490 elementary schools and has a 5-star rating, with exceptional performance on end-of-grade exams.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the district. While some schools excel, others struggle with very low proficiency rates on state assessments. This suggests that a student's educational outcomes are heavily influenced by the specific school they attend, rather than being equitable across the district. Additionally, the schools with the highest percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch tend to have the lowest test scores, highlighting the challenge of overcoming the effects of poverty and economic disadvantage on student learning.