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Bethlehem Elementary

Q: Is Bethlehem Elementary a good school?

Bethlehem Elementary ranks 370 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

370^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 75% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Bethlehem Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Taylorsville, NC, serving about 435 students in the Alexander County Schools district, and it is one of the strongest-performing elementary schools in the surrounding area. The school has earned a 4-star rating every year since 2020–2021 and currently ranks in the 75th percentile statewide — 370th out of nearly 1,500 North Carolina elementary schools. That achievement is especially striking given the local context: Ellendale Elementary ranks in the 19th percentile and Wittenburg Elementary in the 36th, putting Bethlehem hundreds of positions ahead of its same-district neighbors.

Reading is Bethlehem's clearest academic strength. In 2025–2026, 3rd-grade reading proficiency reached 67.6% versus 55.6% statewide, with similarly wide gaps in 4th and 5th grades. Math is also strong overall, particularly in 3rd grade at 75% proficiency, though 5th-grade math recently dipped to about the state average. The school's most impressive results come in 5th-grade science, where 77.4% of students scored proficient in 2025–2026 — roughly 10 points above the state and a mark that ties top regional schools like Oakwood Elementary while far exceeding schools such as Viewmont Elementary.

Bethlehem's results are particularly notable given that nearly all of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Low-income students ranked in the 89th percentile statewide in 2025–2026, and special education students placed in the 98th percentile — evidence that the school is getting strong results across many student groups. Chronic absenteeism rose slightly to 15.5% in 2024–2025 but remains far below the 24.2% state average. For parents, the bottom line is that Bethlehem is a high-poverty school that consistently punches well above its weight, delivering sustained success in reading and science while keeping students engaged and in school.

435

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

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: Recently slipping — 83rd percentile in 2023 → 75th in 2026

Strengths

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

✓Ranks in the top 25% of North Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 83rd-percentile peak (2023) to 75th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg61%

370^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

128^th of 246Alexander 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	72.4	370 of 1492	75.2%	★★★★☆
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
2026	71.6	343 of 1447	76.3%	★★★★☆
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%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.5	160 of 981	83.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	80.4	154 of 1434	89.3%	★★★★☆
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
2026	67.8	434 of 1451	70.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	93.7	17 of 815	97.9%	★★★★★
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
2026	51.7	567 of 1146	50.5%	★★★☆☆
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)

Special Education (2026)98th percentile+23 vs school

Disabled (2022)93rd percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile+14 vs school

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

Hispanic (2026)84th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)76th percentile~ school

Male (2026)70th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)51st percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science77%+10 vs state

Mathematics69%+5 vs state

Reading67%+11 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

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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 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%)	72.4	370^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.2%		73.3	340^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.2%	30	75.0	69.8	61.3		67.6	66.7	66.1		77.4	$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%)	48.3	762^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	48.9%		63.4	505^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.1%	257	62.2	57.9	64.1		55.6	54.4	46.2		69.2	$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%)	37.7	948^th of 1492 public elementary schools	36.5%		33.6	1022^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	31.4%	74	43.6	45.9	62.8		43.6	45.9	53.5		72.1	$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%)	73.4	355^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.2%		71.1	372^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	75.0%	17	74.6	76.7	74.3	62.5	62.0	73.3	59.5	65.3	71.6	$9,813	$1,428	$8,385
Snow Creek Elementary	Public	K-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%)	74.3	332^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	77.7%		67.7	434^th of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%	102	79.5	75.3	77.9	74.0	69.9	64.2	55.8	57.5	75.6	$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%)	39.7	910^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.0%		49.5	751^st of 1490 public elementary schools	49.6%	159	47.1	48.5	63.4		39.7	60.6	46.5		71.8	$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%)	11	1406^th of 1492 public elementary schools	5.8%		17.1	1326^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.0%	80	52.3	26.5	33.8		40.7	33.7	32.4		35.2	$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%)	23.5	1214^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.6%		40	918^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.4%	296	46.9	52.9	45.8		25.0	55.9	41.7		45.8	$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%)	73.8	344^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.9%		81.1	233^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	84.4%	111	63.3	78.3	73.6		57.1	78.3	64.2		77.4	$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%)	70.8	399^th of 1492 public elementary schools	73.3%		67.8	433^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%	34	69.0	75.2	68.8		60.9	70.9	59.1		73.1	$8,703	$796	$7,907

Frequently Asked Questions about 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

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.

What district is Bethlehem Elementary in?

Alexander County Schools

Is Bethlehem Elementary a good school?

Bethlehem Elementary ranks 370^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bethlehem Elementary?

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

Rate Bethlehem 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.