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Bethlehem Elementary

Q: Is Bethlehem Elementary a good school?

Bethlehem Elementary ranks 340 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

340^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 77% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Bethlehem Elementary is a public elementary school located in Taylorsville, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 452 students. The school is part of the Alexander County Schools district, which is ranked 99 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bethlehem Elementary has consistently performed well, ranking in the top 25% of North Carolina elementary schools for the past several years. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 340 out of 1,490 elementary schools in the state, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance consistently outpaces the Alexander County Schools district and the state of North Carolina in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas, with particularly strong results in Mathematics and Reading.

Bethlehem Elementary also stands out for its effective support of diverse student subgroups, including female students, male students, special education students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school's rankings for these subgroups are often in the top 25% or even top 10% of North Carolina elementary schools, indicating a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. When compared to nearby schools like Ellendale Elementary, Oakwood Elementary, and Wittenburg Elementary, Bethlehem Elementary consistently outperforms its peers in core academic areas.

435

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,332

Per pupil spending ?

99.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7900 NC Hwy 127
Taylorsville, NC 28681-9756

(828) 495-8198

District: Alexander County Schools

Students who attend Bethlehem Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	West Alexander Middle
High:	Alexander Central High

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.0%

Hispanic:

9.9%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Bethlehem Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2015 → 77th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 57% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg57%

340^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to top 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Elementary Schools in the Alexander County Schools

99^th of 242Alexander 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	73.3	340 of 1490	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	74.0	344 of 1505	77.1%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	257 of 1502	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	74.0	341 of 1514	77.5%	★★★★☆
2021	72.4	363 of 1489	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.7	491 of 1473	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.5	473 of 1434	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.9	388 of 1429	72.8%	★★★★☆
2016	65.4	472 of 1425	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	66.0	474 of 1440	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	73.1	339 of 1390	75.6%	★★★★☆
2013	79.8	230 of 1403	83.6%	★★★★☆
2012	81.5	175 of 1388	87.4%	★★★★☆
2011	77.0	250 of 1381	81.9%	★★★★☆
2010	85.6	110 of 1363	91.9%	★★★★★
2009	79.2	224 of 1354	83.5%	★★★★☆
2008	68.5	379 of 1324	71.4%	★★★★☆
2007	68.6	377 of 1293	70.8%	★★★★☆
2006	78.3	194 of 1276	84.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	82.4	42 of 634	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	79.4	60 of 646	90.7%	★★★★★
2019	43.1	476 of 878	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	77.0	261 of 1451	82.0%	★★★★☆
2024	68.0	400 of 1455	72.5%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	366 of 1459	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	73.7	319 of 1458	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	68.0	391 of 1440	72.8%	★★★★☆
2019	69.7	394 of 1424	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	420 of 1405	70.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.7	85 of 710	88.0%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	8 of 669	98.8%	★★★★★
2023	68.3	49 of 582	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	65.3	118 of 612	80.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	77.2	200 of 1437	86.1%	★★★★☆
2024	88.0	63 of 1450	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	84.5	99 of 1437	93.1%	★★★★★
2022	83.2	108 of 1366	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	79.5	162 of 1329	87.8%	★★★★☆
2019	63.9	414 of 1361	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.9	491 of 1332	63.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	67.1	420 of 1450	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	317 of 1464	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	82.7	187 of 1461	87.2%	★★★★☆
2022	70.6	374 of 1464	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	73.4	345 of 1444	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	59.2	566 of 1430	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	506 of 1413	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	222 of 821	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	97 of 801	87.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	53.5	542 of 1172	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.0	527 of 1166	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.3	522 of 1183	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.5	476 of 1194	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.6	552 of 1172	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.6	883 of 1183	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.9	790 of 1178	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)93rd percentile+16 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)88th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)86th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)82nd percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2025)73rd percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)71st percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)54th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science85%+23 vs state

Mathematics68%+7 vs state

Reading60%+8 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 9, 2016

This school is over the top with rules. They have not started a positive reinforcement program to encourage students to behave. The clip charts are a thing of the past for most schools. Lunch should be a break and students should be allowed to talk, the red cup/green cup to control talking during this time is ridiculous. I also do not agree with my children walking laps at recess. If the children were allowed more time at lunch and recess to express themselves, there would be less behavior issues. My children are so focused only following rules, they are not focusing on more important issues. I feel this school is behind the changes that are happening in other counties. They desperately need to update their policies and try to be more current with the positive changes happening at other schools. This school is more like elementary schools of the 90s, time for some improvement. Close Quote

Schools Near Bethlehem 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 Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bethlehem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7900 NC Hwy 127	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 495-8198	435	26	16.9	99.1%	335 (77.0%)	11 (2.5%)	43 (9.9%)	19 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.0%)	73.3	340^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.2%		74	344^th of 1505 public elementary schools	77.1%	4	76.8	56.7	69.6		58.0	61.2	62.0		84.6	$9,332	$688	$8,643
W M Jenkins Elementary	Public	K-5	3750 N Center Street	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 327-3491	276	18	15.4	98.9%	116 (42.0%)	35 (12.7%)	59 (21.4%)	18 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (17.4%)	63.4	505^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.1%		68.5	436^th of 1505 public elementary schools	71.0%	69	72.5	52.8	72.3		43.1	47.2	63.8		80.9	$9,330	$894	$8,436
Wittenburg Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7300 Church Road	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 632-2395	294	17	17.3	99.0%	228 (77.6%)	11 (3.7%)	37 (12.6%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.4%)	33.6	1022^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	31.4%		24.2	1204^th of 1505 public elementary schools	20.0%	182	52.8	61.5	42.6		36.1	51.3	40.4		53.2	$10,578	$975	$9,603
Clyde Campbell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2121 35th Avenue Drive NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 256-2769	505	31	16.1	99.4%	305 (60.4%)	22 (4.4%)	86 (17.0%)	46 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (9.1%)	71.1	372^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	75.0%		71.4	378^th of 1505 public elementary schools	74.9%	6	74.7	71.2	71.0	66.1	62.0	63.6	56.5	59.3	60.9	$9,813	$1,428	$8,385
Snow Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3238 Snow Creek Rd	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 256-2335	551	36	15.1	99.5%	324 (58.8%)	14 (2.5%)	120 (21.8%)	40 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (9.6%)	67.7	434^th of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%		67.1	455^th of 1505 public elementary schools	69.8%	21	73.8	63.4	77.9	64.9	52.5	55.9	53.2	60.0	74.0	$9,304	$1,117	$8,187
Dudley Shoals Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 Dudley Shoals Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-3457	433	26	16.4	99.3%	369 (85.2%)	6 (1.4%)	25 (5.8%)	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.5%)	49.5	751^st of 1490 public elementary schools	49.6%		43.5	864^th of 1505 public elementary schools	42.6%	113	63.4	39.7	68.9		47.9	45.6	57.4		65.6	$9,484	$1,010	$8,473
Viewmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	21 16th Avenue NW	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 324-7049	509	30	16.9	99.4%	144 (28.3%)	129 (25.3%)	165 (32.4%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (11.0%)	17.1	1326^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.0%		19.4	1295^th of 1505 public elementary schools	14.0%	31	44.2	28.9	50.0		26.7	33.7	37.2		46.5	$9,264	$1,086	$8,178
Ellendale Elementary	Public	K-5	175 Ellendale Park Lane	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 632-4866	168	11	14.9	98.2%	144 (85.7%)	5 (3.0%)	4 (2.4%)	4 (2.4%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.0%)	40	918^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.4%		40.8	917^th of 1505 public elementary schools	39.1%	1	63.6	35.7	62.5		39.4	53.6	50.0		50.0	$12,059	$1,416	$10,642
Oakwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	366 4th Street NW	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 322-1340	336	20	16.9	99.1%	188 (56.0%)	59 (17.6%)	52 (15.5%)	10 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.0%)	81.1	233^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	84.4%		80.5	236^th of 1505 public elementary schools	84.3%	3	68.3	74.5	71.7		60.0	74.5	71.7		81.1	$8,723	$1,106	$7,618
Granite Falls Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	60 N Highland Avenue	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2222	647	35	18.4	99.2%	506 (78.2%)	22 (3.4%)	84 (13.0%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.3%)	67.8	433^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%		63.3	520^th of 1505 public elementary schools	65.4%	87	79.4	60.6	66.7		59.8	60.6	54.9		65.7	$8,703	$796	$7,907

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethlehem Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Bethlehem Elementary?

Students at Bethlehem Elementary are 77% White, 10% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

How many students attend Bethlehem Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 435 students attended Bethlehem Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Bethlehem Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bethlehem Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Alexander Middle
High : Alexander Central High

Is Bethlehem Elementary a good school?

Bethlehem Elementary ranks 340^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Bethlehem Elementary in?

Alexander 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.