College Lakes Elementary

College Lakes Elementary is a K-5 school in Fayetteville, NC, serving 459 students as part of Cumberland County Schools. Currently rated as a 1-star school, it ranks in the bottom 13% of elementary schools across North Carolina, a significant decline from its 4-star rating nearly a decade ago.

Academic proficiency at College Lakes consistently trails both the district and state averages. For example, only about 41% of students are proficient in 3rd grade math, compared to roughly 62% across the district and 66% statewide. Reading scores show a similar pattern, with 5th grade reading proficiency around 34% versus the state average of 55%. This struggle is shared by many students, with most subgroups performing in the bottom quartile. However, what makes this situation particularly notable is that nearby schools like Long Hill Elementary and Howard L Hall Elementary, which serve nearly identical high-poverty populations, are performing dramatically better and rank in the 74th and 66th percentiles, respectively.

While the school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3 and higher per-pupil spending than those stronger neighbors, chronic absenteeism is a major barrier. Over 32% of students are chronically absent, which is about 8 percentage points higher than the state average and roughly double the rate at Long Hill and Howard Hall. The school has shown occasional bright spots, such as strong 3rd grade performance in 2024-25, proving that improvement is possible. Yet, the overall trend remains clear, and the stark contrast with nearby schools suggests that better outcomes are achievable with a focused effort on consistent attendance and academic support.