Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

William H Owen Elementary

Q: Is William H Owen Elementary a good school?

William H Owen Elementary ranks 944 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

944^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

William H Owen Elementary is a PK-5 school in Fayetteville, NC, serving 393 students as part of Cumberland County Schools, where nearly all students (99%) come from economically disadvantaged households. The school currently holds a 2-star state rating, placing it in the 37th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools and slightly below the district's overall position.

The school's most distinctive strength is fifth-grade science. This past year, 76.4% of Owen's 5th graders were proficient in science, well above the district (65.8%) and state (67.7%) averages; among nearby schools, only Vanstory Hills Elementary (78.7%) posted a higher score. What makes this remarkable is that it is a recent emergence — Owen's science proficiency was just 49.1% in 2022-23 before jumping and staying strong for three straight years. Owen also stands out for attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 24.3% nearly matches the state average (24.2%) and runs about nine points better than the district (33.7%), a notable achievement given that nearby high-poverty schools like Cliffdale Elementary (38.0%) and Brentwood Elementary (37.2%) struggle far more with attendance. Subgroup results reinforce this picture of pockets of effectiveness, with Hispanic students ranking in the 89th percentile statewide and African American students in the 66th.

The clearest area for improvement is early reading. Owen trails the district and state in every tested grade, with the largest gap in 3rd grade: 41.0% proficient versus 52.8% for the district and 55.6% statewide. The same cohort's contrast is striking — 5th graders posted a 76.4% science proficiency rate but only 45.5% in reading. The school's overall state ranking has been volatile, jumping to the 59th percentile in 2023-24 before settling at today's 37th, which suggests the current standing is not a fixed ceiling. The nearby example of Vanstory Hills, which serves a similarly high-poverty population yet ranks in the 74th percentile, demonstrates the school has room to grow and already has strengths — science, attendance, and strong results for specific student groups — it can build upon.

393

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

99%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4533 Raeford Road
Fayetteville, NC 28304-3229

(910) 425-6163

District: Cumberland County Schools

Students who attend William H Owen Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Douglas Byrd Middle
High:	Douglas Byrd High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

63.9%

Hispanic:

21.4%

White:

8.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare William H Owen Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 21st percentile in 2021 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 37th (2026) from a 21st-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (54% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Reading scores 12 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg57%

North Carolina avg61%

944^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

141^st of 246Cumberland County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.9	944 of 1492	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.0	879 of 1490	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.1	616 of 1505	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	30.1	1086 of 1502	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.1	1068 of 1514	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.1	1182 of 1489	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.6	1057 of 1473	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.7	999 of 1434	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.7	766 of 1429	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	56.9	601 of 1425	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.4	808 of 1440	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	58.9	559 of 1390	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	50.9	645 of 1403	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.5	635 of 1388	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	19.3	1213 of 1381	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	14.0	1239 of 1363	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.3	1324 of 1354	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	7.3	1270 of 1324	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	9.1	1241 of 1293	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.0	1234 of 1276	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.9	307 of 903	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	308 of 918	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	80.2	108 of 924	88.3%	★★★★☆
2023	50.7	424 of 933	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.6	412 of 927	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	521 of 896	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.2	347 of 949	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.2	334 of 927	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	28.9	700 of 897	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.0	855 of 1447	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.9	836 of 1451	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.2	493 of 1455	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	25.1	1161 of 1459	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.5	936 of 1458	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.5	1030 of 1440	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.3	1034 of 1424	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.1	924 of 1405	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	122 of 743	83.6%	★★★★☆
2025	53.2	449 of 710	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	69.8	72 of 669	89.2%	★★★★☆
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	80.7	111 of 981	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	74.5	153 of 961	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	87.1	64 of 951	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	72.9	170 of 915	81.4%	★★★★☆
2022	79.3	109 of 893	87.8%	★★★★☆
2021	36.2	541 of 843	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.9	669 of 865	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	52.6	384 of 851	54.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.3	914 of 1434	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.5	881 of 1437	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.2	395 of 1450	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	31.6	1054 of 1437	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.8	952 of 1366	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.6	1212 of 1329	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.4	921 of 1361	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.7	996 of 1332	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.9	999 of 1451	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.4	890 of 1450	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.2	731 of 1464	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.9	902 of 1461	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.5	1143 of 1464	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.2	1249 of 1444	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	1036 of 1430	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.9	1042 of 1413	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)89th percentile+52 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)84th percentile+47 vs school

African American (2026)66th percentile+29 vs school

Female (2026)41st percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)36th percentile~ school

Male (2026)31st percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2018)22nd percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science76%+9 vs state

Mathematics56%-7 vs state

Reading44%-12 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate William H Owen Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, December 10, 2017

I have 2 children in the Spanish Immersion program at William H Owen. My husband and I love the school.Principal McEachern and her staff provide excellent education, nuturing environment, and promote global awareness. My children are attending the best school in our area. Close Quote

Schools Near William H Owen Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
William H Owen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4533 Raeford Road	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 425-6163	393	30	13.1	99.0%	32 (8.1%)	251 (63.9%)	84 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.1%)	37.9	944^th of 1492 public elementary schools	36.7%		42	879^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.0%	65	62.3	47.4	58.2	41.0	45.6	45.5	76.4	$10,370	$1,704	$8,665
J W Coon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	905 Hope Mills Road	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 425-6141	186	19	9.9	98.4%	36 (19.4%)	84 (45.2%)	43 (23.1%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (11.3%)	23.3	1219^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.3%		23.3	1212^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.7%	7	56.5	42.1	34.8	47.8	26.3	47.8	56.5	$15,400	$1,813	$13,587
Montclair Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	555 Glensford Drive	Fayetteville	28314	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 868-5124	433	31	13.9	99.3%	46 (10.6%)	226 (52.2%)	103 (23.8%)	13 (3.0%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	40 (9.2%)	23.2	1223^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	18.0%		36	982^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.1%	241	47.0	33.8	57.9	31.8	43.2	50.9	57.9	$10,530	$1,397	$9,133
Mary McArthur Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3809 Village Drive	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 424-2206	447	31	14.5	97.8%	75 (16.8%)	227 (50.8%)	78 (17.4%)	10 (2.2%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	52 (11.6%)	33.5	1036^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.6%		40.9	901^st of 1490 public elementary schools	39.5%	135	57.0	48.5	41.5	50.6	59.1	40.0	61.5	$11,714	$1,748	$9,966
Glendale Acres Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	2915 Skycrest Drive	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 484-9031	251	18	14.0	98.8%	35 (13.9%)	125 (49.8%)	36 (14.3%)	27 (10.8%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.2%)								(n/a)								$14,262	$1,722	$12,540
Brentwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1115 Bingham Drive	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 864-5310	494	36	13.8	96.8%	52 (10.5%)	298 (60.3%)	90 (18.2%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.8%)	44 (8.9%)	24.2	1201^st of 1492 public elementary schools	19.5%		27.6	1117^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.0%	84	47.8	51.8	46.2	35.8	50.6	40.0	53.8	$11,456	$2,255	$9,201
Sherwood Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2115 Hope Mills Road	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 424-4797	335	28	12.1	95.5%	54 (16.1%)	169 (50.4%)	62 (18.5%)	4 (1.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (13.1%)	54.4	661^st of 1492 public elementary schools	55.7%		58.7	586^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.7%	75	70.6	65.5	56.4	56.9	62.1	51.3	59.0	$11,579	$1,916	$9,663
Vanstory Hills Elementary	Public	2-5	400 Foxhall Road	Fayetteville	28303	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 483-0809	514	32	15.8	99.4%	228 (44.4%)	143 (27.8%)	83 (16.1%)	10 (1.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (9.1%)	71.9	381^st of 1492 public elementary schools	74.5%		77	296^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.1%	85	68.3	70.4	73.8	58.6	70.4	64.8	78.7	$8,221	$969	$7,252
Cliffdale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6450 Cliffdale Road	Fayetteville	28314	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 864-3442	613	44	14.0	97.9%	28 (4.6%)	381 (62.2%)	137 (22.3%)	6 (1.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (9.5%)	19.8	1281^st of 1492 public elementary schools	14.1%		16.4	1335^th of 1490 public elementary schools	10.4%	54	50.0	45.0	35.6	38.7	52.0	33.0	52.7	$9,948	$1,914	$8,034
Ashley Elementary	Public	3-5	810 Trainer Drive	Fayetteville	28304	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 484-4156	180	14	12.5	98.3%	45 (25.0%)	80 (44.4%)	18 (10.0%)	21 (11.7%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.3%)	38.7	926^th of 1492 public elementary schools	37.9%		41.9	881^st of 1490 public elementary schools	40.9%	45	55.1	50.0	60.5	44.9	48.1	58.1	65.1	$12,222	$1,413	$10,809

Frequently Asked Questions about William H Owen Elementary

What district is William H Owen Elementary in?

Cumberland County Schools

Is William H Owen Elementary a good school?

William H Owen Elementary ranks 944^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of William H Owen Elementary attend?

Students who attend William H Owen Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Douglas Byrd Middle
High : Douglas Byrd High

How many students attend William H Owen Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 393 students attended William H Owen Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of William H Owen Elementary?

Students at William H Owen Elementary are 64% African American, 21% Hispanic, 8% White, 6% Two or more races.

Rate William H Owen Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina Elementary School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Fayetteville, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for William H Owen Elementary!

Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.