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Margaret Willis Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1144^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Margaret Willis Elementary is a public elementary school located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 323 students. The school is part of the Cumberland County Schools district, which is ranked 144 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Margaret Willis Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina elementary schools over the past several years, with a ranking between 883 and 1426 out of around 1,500 schools. The school has received a 1-star or 0-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past 10 school years, indicating it is performing well below average compared to other elementary schools in the state. This is largely due to the school's high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which has consistently been over 98%, as well as its low academic performance across mathematics, reading, and science proficiency rates that are well below state and district averages.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Vanstory Hills Elementary and Montclair Elementary, generally perform significantly better than Margaret Willis Elementary across academic measures, with Vanstory Hills Elementary consistently ranking in the top 20% of North Carolina elementary schools. This suggests that the challenges faced by Margaret Willis Elementary may be unique to the school and not necessarily shared by all schools in the same district, and there may be opportunities to learn from the practices of higher-performing schools in the area.

296

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,905

Per pupil spending ?

97.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1412 Belvedere Avenue
Fayetteville, NC 28305-4599

(910) 484-9064

District: Cumberland County Schools

Students who attend Margaret Willis Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Luther Nick Jeralds Middle
High:	Terry Sanford High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.5%

Two or more races:

15.2%

Hispanic:

10.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Margaret Willis Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 4th percentile in 2021 → 23rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 23rd (2025) from a 4th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (43% vs 57% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Science scores 24 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg57%

1,144^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From bottom 37% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

32^nd of 46Elementary Schools in the Cumberland County Schools

144^th of 242Cumberland 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
2025	26.5	1144 of 1490	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.9	1139 of 1505	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.5	1248 of 1502	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.7	1364 of 1514	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.2	1426 of 1489	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.3	1295 of 1473	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.9	1177 of 1434	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	39.1	925 of 1429	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.5	883 of 1425	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.4	903 of 1440	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.0	800 of 1390	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.5	877 of 1403	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	61.2	576 of 1388	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	28.0	1099 of 1381	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	40.5	926 of 1363	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	25.8	1084 of 1354	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	18.4	1151 of 1324	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	17.7	1158 of 1293	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.4	949 of 1276	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.0	505 of 918	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.4	570 of 924	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.8	693 of 933	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.4	628 of 927	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.0	775 of 896	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.7	571 of 949	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.0	583 of 927	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	20.2	1255 of 1451	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.4	1217 of 1455	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.9	1069 of 1459	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.1	1252 of 1458	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.5	1373 of 1440	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	1244 of 1424	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	1066 of 1405	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	1017 of 1437	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.2	920 of 1450	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.5	1061 of 1437	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.8	1141 of 1366	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.4	1295 of 1329	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	33.4	1002 of 1361	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.4	849 of 1332	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	37.9	931 of 1450	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.0	953 of 1464	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	14.2	1337 of 1461	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	1369 of 1464	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.9	1381 of 1444	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.1	1251 of 1430	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.8	1194 of 1413	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2025)45th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2025)36th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)14th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics45%-15 vs state

Reading43%-10 vs state

Science38%-24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Margaret Willis Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Margaret Willis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1412 Belvedere Avenue	Fayetteville	28305	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 484-9064	296	23	12.9	97.6%	27 (9.1%)	191 (64.5%)	31 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (15.2%)	26.5	1144^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.2%		27.9	1139^th of 1505 public elementary schools	24.3%	5	68.4	35.9	36.4	47.4	45.0	38.2	38.2	$12,905	$1,919	$10,985
Alma O Easom Elementary	Public	K-1	1610 Westlawn Avenue	Fayetteville	28305	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 484-0194	301	18	16.7	99.0%	96 (31.9%)	111 (36.9%)	62 (20.6%)	4 (1.3%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (7.3%)								(n/a)								$10,478	$765	$9,712
Ferguson-Easley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1857 Seabrook Road	Fayetteville	28301	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 483-4883	392	24	16.1	95.9%	17 (4.3%)	299 (76.3%)	44 (11.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.9%)	10.2	1418^th of 1490 public elementary schools	4.8%		24.9	1195^th of 1505 public elementary schools	20.6%	223	32.1	37.3	24.7	30.4	39.2	30.1	35.6	$11,511	$1,585	$9,925
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%)	77	296^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.1%		76.8	298^th of 1505 public elementary schools	80.2%	2	69.8	64.1	76.0	60.4	70.1	65.6	75.2	$8,221	$969	$7,252
Cumberland Virtual Academy K-5	Public, Virtual	K-5	800 North Street	Fayetteville	28301	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	Yes	Yes	(910) 500-7584	168	13	12.8	71.4%	33 (19.6%)	76 (45.2%)	32 (19.0%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.4%)	2 (1.2%)	20 (11.9%)	26.7	1138^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.6%		31.7	1068^th of 1505 public elementary schools	29.0%	70	11.5	30.3	41.9	23.1	57.6	58.1	41.9
Westarea Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	941 Country Club Drive	Fayetteville	28301	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 488-1705	546	37	14.8	97.6%	28 (5.1%)	368 (67.4%)	96 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (9.0%)	11.8	1396^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.3%		10.9	1414^th of 1505 public elementary schools	6.0%	18	36.8	32.9	31.0	27.4	37.1	38.9	37.5	$9,953	$1,904	$8,048
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%)	41.9	881^st of 1490 public elementary schools	40.9%		39.2	948^th of 1505 public elementary schools	37.0%	67	40.6	46.8	59.7	32.8	55.3	62.7	59.7	$12,222	$1,413	$10,809
Lucile Souders Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	128 Hillview Avenue	Fayetteville	28301	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 488-6705	399	29	13.8	99.2%	24 (6.0%)	281 (70.4%)	58 (14.5%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	30 (7.5%)	17.1	1325^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.1%		35.8	998^th of 1505 public elementary schools	33.7%	327	35.7	40.7	32.8	32.9	39.0	42.6	44.3	$9,786	$1,579	$8,207
Walker-Spivey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Fisher Street	Fayetteville	28301	Cumberland County	Cumberland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 483-5656	345	22	15.8	98.6%	7 (2.0%)	289 (83.8%)	17 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.8%)	12.5	1384^th of 1490 public elementary schools	7.1%		29.6	1106^th of 1505 public elementary schools	26.5%	278	40.6	40.4	25.9	36.2	38.3	24.1	25.9	$11,761	$1,939	$9,823
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Margaret Willis Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Margaret Willis Elementary?

Students at Margaret Willis Elementary are 65% African American, 15% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 9% White.

How many students attend Margaret Willis Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 296 students attended Margaret Willis Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Margaret Willis Elementary attend?

Students who attend Margaret Willis Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Luther Nick Jeralds Middle
High : Terry Sanford High

Is Margaret Willis Elementary a good school?

Margaret Willis Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.2% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What district is Margaret Willis Elementary in?

Cumberland County Schools

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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.