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Ayden Elementary

Q: Is Ayden Elementary a good school?

Ayden Elementary ranks 362 nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

362^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Ayden Elementary in Ayden, NC, is a PK-5 public school serving 656 students in Pitt County Schools, and it has transformed into one of the region's strongest elementary schools. Nearly all students (98.5%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school has climbed dramatically in state rankings—from the 31st percentile in 2021-22 to the 76th percentile today—earning a 4-star rating and ranking #362 out of 1,492 elementary schools statewide. Its most recent performance stands well above the district's overall profile, making it an equity success story in eastern North Carolina.

Academically, Ayden Elementary now exceeds both Pitt County and North Carolina proficiency rates in every tested subject and grade. Math is a clear signature strength, with proficiency rates about 10–12 percentage points above the state average in grades 3, 4, and 5. Reading has also improved sharply—3rd-grade reading jumped from 49.2% to 64.2% and 5th-grade reading from 45.9% to 60.0% in just one year—now topping both district and state averages. Science proficiency (77% in 5th grade) also leads the state by a wide margin.

The school's success extends across student groups: low-income students perform at the 83rd percentile statewide, African American and Hispanic students each at the 86th percentile, and white students at the 75th percentile. Chronic absenteeism has fallen to 16.2%, well below the district (21.7%) and state (24.2%). Among nearby schools, Ayden now trails only Wintergreen Intermediate and Ridgewood Elementary in overall ranking, but it actually outperforms Ridgewood in 3rd- and 4th-grade math. While rankings for gifted and special education subgroups have fluctuated recently—areas worth monitoring—Ayden's overall trajectory is clearly positive and an encouraging outlier for a school serving such a high-poverty population.

656

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

98.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

187 Third Street
Ayden, NC 28513-1536

(252) 746-2121

District: Pitt County Schools

Students who attend Ayden Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ayden Middle
High:	Ayden-Grifton High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

44.8%

White:

35.1%

Hispanic:

11.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Ayden Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 45th percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (69% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg61%

362^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 31 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

112^th of 246Pitt 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	72.8	362 of 1492	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	66.6	455 of 1490	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.6	787 of 1505	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.1	692 of 1502	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.8	1041 of 1514	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.2	1051 of 1489	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.5	1040 of 1473	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.7	845 of 1434	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.4	941 of 1429	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.7	781 of 1425	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.0	954 of 1440	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.7	723 of 1390	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.5	818 of 1403	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	24.3	1165 of 1388	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.5	1141 of 1381	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.4	1176 of 1363	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	26.2	1079 of 1354	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	37.9	897 of 1324	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	43.3	840 of 1293	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	35.6	933 of 1276	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.0	129 of 903	85.7%	★★★★☆
2025	71.9	179 of 918	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	39.6	582 of 924	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.4	391 of 933	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	27.6	732 of 927	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.4	742 of 896	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.0	632 of 949	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.3	498 of 927	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	34.8	408 of 634	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.3	484 of 646	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.5	642 of 878	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	57.7	299 of 897	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	376 of 1447	74.0%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	458 of 1451	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.2	817 of 1455	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.8	666 of 1459	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.1	1048 of 1458	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.8	1013 of 1440	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	1044 of 1424	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.3	777 of 1405	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	399 of 743	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	70.5	41 of 669	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	68.2	77 of 582	86.8%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	358 of 612	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.1	133 of 981	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	82.1	91 of 961	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	86.0	74 of 951	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	77.5	124 of 915	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	52.4	372 of 893	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.6	599 of 843	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.1	256 of 865	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	41.6	525 of 851	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	240 of 1434	83.3%	★★★★☆
2025	66.0	380 of 1437	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	47.9	759 of 1450	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.6	519 of 1437	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.0	991 of 1366	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	1089 of 1329	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	995 of 1361	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.2	889 of 1332	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.6	331 of 1451	77.2%	★★★★☆
2025	66.0	441 of 1450	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.4	722 of 1464	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.3	682 of 1461	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	974 of 1464	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.3	1036 of 1444	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.0	985 of 1430	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.5	912 of 1413	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	25.9	103 of 133	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.5	453 of 815	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.9	295 of 821	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.1	436 of 801	45.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.9	290 of 1146	74.7%	★★★★☆
2025	67.9	346 of 1172	70.5%	★★★★☆
2024	45.9	675 of 1166	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.4	382 of 1183	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.6	702 of 1194	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.4	674 of 1172	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.8	852 of 1183	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	55.6	547 of 1178	53.6%	★★★☆☆

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)86th percentile+11 vs school

African American (2026)86th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)77th percentile~ school

White (2026)75th percentile~ school

Female (2026)74th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)46th percentile-29 vs school

Special Education (2026)44th percentile-31 vs school

Disabled (2022)36th percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)23rd percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science77%+9 vs state

Mathematics75%+11 vs state

Reading62%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ayden Elementary

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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 Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ayden Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	187 Third Street	Ayden	28513	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 746-2121	656	44	15.0	98.5%	230 (35.1%)	294 (44.8%)	76 (11.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (8.2%)	72.8	362^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	75.7%		66.6	455^th of 1490 public elementary schools	69.5%	93	78.9	72.0	74.0				64.2	61.3	60.0				77.0		$9,475	$1,346	$8,129
Creekside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	431 Forlines Road	Winterville	28590	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 353-5253	622	43	14.6	99.5%	114 (18.3%)	412 (66.2%)	45 (7.2%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (7.2%)	65.2	504^th of 1492 public elementary schools	66.2%		56.9	611^th of 1490 public elementary schools	59.0%	107	71.8	67.4	77.4				59.0	59.3	57.0				69.9		$10,268	$1,329	$8,939
W H Robinson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2439 Railroad Street	Winterville	28590	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 756-3707	692	44	15.6	99.6%	169 (24.4%)	417 (60.3%)	46 (6.6%)	13 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (6.6%)	58.5	608^th of 1492 public elementary schools	59.2%		57	607^th of 1490 public elementary schools	59.3%	1	58.6	71.7	63.2				56.8	71.7	56.8				65.3		$9,355	$1,178	$8,177
Ridgewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3601 South Bend Dr	Winterville	28590	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 355-7879	700	48	14.6	99.6%	252 (36.0%)	300 (42.9%)	64 (9.1%)	30 (4.3%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (7.1%)	75.9	303^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	79.7%		82.3	211^th of 1490 public elementary schools	85.8%	92	71.8	65.0	78.1				64.1	67.0	72.8				79.8		$9,012	$1,064	$7,949
Winterville Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4160 Bayswater Road	Winterville	28590	Pitt County	Winterville Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(252) 689-6153	624	28	22.1	69.7%	123 (19.7%)	341 (54.6%)	87 (13.9%)	20 (3.2%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	46 (7.4%)	61.5	555^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.8%		51	732^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	50.9%	177	66.2	47.5	71.4	64.2	70.4	80.0	55.8	62.7	66.1	66.0	64.8	67.5	73.2	85.0
Wintergreen Intermediate	Public	3-5	4720 County Home Rd	Greenville	27858	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 355-2411	821	50	16.4	99.6%	416 (50.7%)	219 (26.7%)	82 (10.0%)	53 (6.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.1%)	83.4	200^th of 1492 public elementary schools	86.6%		87.3	144^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.3%	56	79.0	80.9	79.3				66.9	71.9	71.5				79.6		$8,418	$893	$7,525
Wintergreen Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	4710 County Home Road	Greenville	27858	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 353-5270	786	53	14.8	99.6%	346 (44.0%)	237 (30.2%)	100 (12.7%)	44 (5.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (7.4%)								(n/a)															$9,724	$1,030	$8,694
Grifton	Public	PK, KG-8	513 E McCrae St	Grifton	28530	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 524-5141	395	30	12.9	97.5%	106 (26.8%)	174 (44.1%)	87 (22.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.8%)	40.3	901^st of 1492 public elementary schools	39.6%		34.7	1008^th of 1490 public elementary schools	32.3%	107	71.8	43.9	59.5	41.3	48.8	41.5	65.0	43.9	50.0	23.9	46.3	43.4	76.2	60.4	$10,793	$1,896	$8,897
Lakeforest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3300 Briarcliff Drive	Greenville	27834	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 756-3941	821	53	15.4	98.1%	44 (5.4%)	663 (80.8%)	58 (7.1%)	8 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.7%)	42 (5.1%)	34.5	1020^th of 1492 public elementary schools	31.6%		31.1	1071^st of 1490 public elementary schools	28.1%	51	47.9	55.4	58.0				43.7	50.4	45.5				63.1		$10,158	$1,578	$8,580
South Greenville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	811 Howell St	Greenville	27834	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 756-7004	251	26	9.7	98.8%	4 (1.6%)	205 (81.7%)	20 (8.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.4%)	18.5	1308^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.3%		25.8	1161^st of 1490 public elementary schools	22.1%	147	59.2	42.6	45.2				30.6	46.8	19.0				50.0		$12,110	$2,467	$9,643

Frequently Asked Questions about Ayden Elementary

How many students attend Ayden Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 656 students attended Ayden Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Ayden Elementary?

Students at Ayden Elementary are 45% African American, 35% White, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

What district is Ayden Elementary in?

Pitt County Schools

What schools do graduates of Ayden Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ayden Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ayden Middle
High : Ayden-Grifton High

Is Ayden Elementary a good school?

Ayden Elementary ranks 362^nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Ayden Elementary!

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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.