Summary:
Broadway Elementary is the only public school in the city of Broadway, North Carolina, a small municipality in Lee County where this single K-5 elementary school serves about 490 students as part of Lee County Schools. Because no other city schools exist, the most meaningful comparisons are to the district and to North Carolina state averages. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with nearly 97% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 26.6% is above both the district rate (21.4%) and the state rate (24.2%).
The defining story is rapid academic improvement. Broadway Elementary climbed from the 9th percentile in statewide rankings in 2023–2024 to the 36th percentile in 2025–2026, and its rating rose from 0 to 2 stars. In the latest year, 5th grade math proficiency reached 65.7%, above the state average of 62.9%, and 5th grade science reached 70.1%, also above the state average of 67.7%. This follows a year of striking gains: 5th grade science jumped 30.6 points, 5th grade reading 20.2 points, and 5th grade math 17.0 points. Similar progress appeared in 4th grade math and reading.
However, reading proficiency remains below the state average in every grade, making it a persistent area of concern. Third grade is the most urgent challenge: only 39.0% of 3rd graders are proficient in reading versus 55.6% statewide, and 47.6% are proficient in math versus 66.4% statewide. The school's relative strength in grades 4–5 could reflect successful interventions or differences between student cohorts over time. Given the nearly universal poverty rate and the elevated chronic absenteeism, sustaining this upward trend will likely require continued attention to early literacy, early math, and attendance.
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