Summary:
Schools in the city of Colfax, North Carolina, are represented by a single educational institution: Colfax Elementary, a PK–5 school serving 587 students within Guilford County Schools. Since Colfax has no other public schools, this report focuses entirely on this elementary school’s performance and climate.
Colfax Elementary is a consistently high-achieving school, earning 4-star ratings every year and ranking in the top 16–20% of North Carolina elementary schools. In the most recent 2025–2026 school year, it outperformed both its district and the state in all seven tested categories, with particularly strong results in 3rd-grade math (81.3% proficient), 5th-grade science (81.8%), and 5th-grade reading (70.7%). The school’s math proficiency averaged about 75.1%, while reading averaged 69.8%, showing math as a relative strength. It also improved overall from the prior year, with average proficiency rising from roughly 69.6% to 73.8%. Even the school’s most challenging area, 3rd-grade reading, improved dramatically from 55.0% to 70.1% and remained above state averages.
What makes these results even more notable is the student population: 99.49% of students at Colfax Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this near-universal economic disadvantage, the school achieves strong academic outcomes. Chronic absenteeism stands at 20.2%, which is lower than the district’s 29.2% and the state’s 24.2%, likely supporting consistent learning. The student-teacher ratio is 16:1, and per-pupil spending is $9,282. For parents living in Colfax, this elementary school is a clear local asset, though families will need to look outside the city for middle and high school options. Overall, Colfax Elementary demonstrates that high-poverty schools can deliver excellent academic results through strong instruction and consistent attendance.
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