Best Public Schools in Timberlake, NC

Timberlake, North Carolina, is served by just one public school, Helena Elementary, a K-5 school within Person County Schools, meaning families in this area have no public middle or high school options locally for grades 6-12. Helena Elementary is a standout not just because it is the only school in Timberlake, but because it consistently earns a 4-star state rating while serving a student population where 98.83% qualify for free or reduced lunch. In 2025-26, the school ranked 436th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the 71st percentile, with strong showings in reading, mathematics, and science compared to district and state averages. Most notably, 3rd grade reading proficiency jumped from 49.4% to 68.4% in one year, and 5th grade reading rose from 52.7% to 64.3%, while 4th grade math slipped below the district average, making math consistency an area to watch.

Despite its high-poverty demographics, Helena Elementary outperforms the state in nearly every tested subject: all reading grade levels, all math grade levels except 4th, and 5th grade science all exceeded North Carolina proficiency averages in 2025-26. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 17.5% is significantly lower than both the district (24.9%) and state (24.2%), though about one in six students still misses enough school to be considered chronically absent. Science proficiency remains a particular strength, with 5th graders posting 72.4% proficiency versus 67.7% statewide, and the school has held a 4-star rating for three consecutive years, even as its statewide percentile slipped slightly from 73 to 71.

For parents, Helena Elementary offers a high-quality academic environment in a small, economically challenged community, but class sizes may be relatively large at a 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Per-pupil spending data is outdated at $9,643 from 2018-19 and may not reflect current funding. Since Timberlake has no middle or high schools, families should plan for their children to continue their education elsewhere within Person County Schools. Overall, Helena Elementary is a positive outlier—a high-poverty school that consistently beats state averages and posted dramatic reading gains, making it a strong educational hub for the children of Timberlake.