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Sparta Elementary

Q: Is Sparta Elementary a good school?

Sparta Elementary ranks 1077 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1077^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Sparta Elementary is a PK-8 school in Sparta, NC, serving 523 students as part of Alleghany County Schools. The school currently carries a 1-star rating, ranking in the 28th percentile statewide—the lowest of any nearby school in its comparison group. Its two same-district peers rank higher: Piney Creek Elementary sits in the 77th percentile (4 stars), and Glade Creek Elementary ranks in the 43rd percentile (2 stars). Like those schools, Sparta serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with over 99% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Test results show a school with real strengths and clear challenges. Third-grade math is a genuine bright spot: 78.8% of Sparta 3rd graders are proficient, beating the district (76.7%) and the state (66.4%). However, reading proficiency falls below the state average in every grade tested, with 5th grade the most concerning—only 30% of students read at grade level versus 55.3% statewide. Fifth-grade science is also weak at 43.3% proficiency. The data suggests students may be hitting a difficult transition in upper elementary: cohorts that score well in 3rd-grade math tend to decline sharply by 4th and 5th grade. Literacy appears to be the core issue, one that likely compounds struggles in reading-dependent subjects like science.

The most revealing comparison is with Piney Creek Elementary, located ten miles away in the same district with nearly identical poverty rates and similar per-pupil funding. Piney Creek outperforms Sparta by 25 to 35 points in many subjects—for example, 65% versus 30% in 5th-grade reading and 75% versus 43.3% in 5th-grade science. On a positive note, Sparta has made real progress reducing chronic absenteeism, from 48.4% of students in 2021-2022 to 18.3% in 2024-2025, now below the state average. Nearby Glade Creek (5.1%) and Piney Creek (11.1%) show even lower rates are attainable. Sparta's neighbor schools demonstrate that strong outcomes are possible under similar circumstances, suggesting targeted work in reading, upper-elementary instruction, and attendance could meaningfully change the school's trajectory.

523

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

450 N Main Street
Sparta, NC 28675

(336) 372-8546

District: Alleghany County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.3%

Hispanic:

35.0%

Two or more races:

2.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Sparta Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 28th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (50% vs 59% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 25 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

1,077^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to bottom 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

439^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to bottom 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

99^th of 246Alleghany 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	1077 of 1492	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.5	1143 of 1490	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.3	1020 of 1505	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.0	1021 of 1502	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.7	1013 of 1514	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	963 of 1489	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.6	925 of 1473	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.4	934 of 1434	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.6	1007 of 1429	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	53.5	667 of 1425	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	58.4	598 of 1440	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	44.7	781 of 1390	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.5	758 of 1403	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.8	788 of 1388	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	55.6	694 of 1381	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	63.4	547 of 1363	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.3	433 of 1354	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.2	510 of 1324	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.2	524 of 1293	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.9	650 of 1276	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	43.3	300 of 634	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	225 of 646	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.5	1043 of 1447	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	39.2	909 of 1451	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.0	785 of 1455	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.8	988 of 1459	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.9	1033 of 1458	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.4	1033 of 1440	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	1070 of 1424	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.4	982 of 1405	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	17.3	913 of 981	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	750 of 961	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.8	587 of 951	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.5	624 of 915	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.5	706 of 893	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.3	604 of 843	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.4	715 of 865	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	769 of 851	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.8	1128 of 1434	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.9	972 of 1437	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.3	800 of 1450	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.1	812 of 1437	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.2	666 of 1366	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.6	643 of 1329	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.3	767 of 1361	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	785 of 1332	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.8	1070 of 1451	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.1	1270 of 1450	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	1155 of 1464	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.1	981 of 1461	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.4	906 of 1464	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	840 of 1444	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.7	725 of 1430	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.4	857 of 1413	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	913 of 1146	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.0	1092 of 1172	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1042 of 1166	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.4	1062 of 1183	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.9	1028 of 1194	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.5	1007 of 1172	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	1014 of 1183	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.1	909 of 1178	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.6	439 of 778	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.0	550 of 773	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	541 of 793	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.6	496 of 784	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	448 of 786	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.3	461 of 741	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.6	438 of 737	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.0	352 of 691	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.4	406 of 694	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	61.5	262 of 692	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.1	305 of 705	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	43.2	350 of 627	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.6	333 of 673	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.3	326 of 662	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.9	177 of 648	72.7%	★★★★☆
2010	74.1	145 of 640	77.3%	★★★★☆
2009	69.2	195 of 630	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	69.9	176 of 620	71.6%	★★★★☆
2007	58.7	285 of 606	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.3	384 of 598	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	60.2	95 of 449	78.8%	★★★★☆
2019	32.8	361 of 504	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	388 of 475	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.5	273 of 731	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.9	496 of 733	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.2	536 of 738	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	621 of 731	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.2	555 of 733	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.3	497 of 706	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.4	449 of 684	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.2	354 of 656	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	48.5	294 of 416	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.2	273 of 566	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.8	354 of 562	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.4	355 of 564	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.1	516 of 553	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.1	446 of 541	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.9	433 of 522	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.1	293 of 493	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.1	327 of 472	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	298 of 725	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.7	420 of 729	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.5	487 of 743	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	450 of 735	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	356 of 689	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.6	246 of 633	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.1	296 of 639	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.9	189 of 604	68.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.9	490 of 736	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.1	539 of 733	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.2	474 of 751	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.8	327 of 747	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.8	313 of 748	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.9	401 of 711	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.9	405 of 697	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.1	333 of 665	49.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	479 of 644	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.0	592 of 649	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	591 of 652	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.2	498 of 656	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.5	475 of 658	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	476 of 632	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.8	508 of 624	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.4	413 of 596	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Disabled (2022)53rd percentile+20 vs school

Female (2026)28th percentile~ school

Male (2026)26th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)21st percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)20th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)7th percentile-21 vs school

Middle school

Disabled (2022)79th percentile+36 vs school

Female (2026)63rd percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)59th percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)52nd percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-10 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)29th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)26th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics59%~ state avg

Science50%-18 vs state

Reading42%-14 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, February 16, 2018

Terrible school, no communication from the school or teachers to students. Trying to get a meeting with a teacher for parent teacher conferences is next to impossible. Close Quote

Schools Near Sparta 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Sparta Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	450 N Main Street	Sparta	28675	Alleghany County	Alleghany County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 372-8546	523	43	12.2	—	326 (62.3%)	1 (0.2%)	183 (35.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.3%)	30.6	1077^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.8%		26.5	1143^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	23.3%	66	78.8	43.8	51.7	58.5	66.7	57.4	46.2	37.5	30.0	51.2	43.8	44.3	43.3	57.4	$12,210	$1,539	$10,671
Glade Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	32 Glade Creek Sch Road	Ennice	28623	Alleghany County	Alleghany County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 657-3388	236	17	14.0	—	159 (67.4%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (31.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	43.8	849^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.1%		23.3	1211^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.7%	362	76.2	59.4	62.5	36.4	46.7	73.7	52.4	62.5	54.2	39.4	40.0	63.2	58.3	84.2	$12,782	$1,440	$11,341
Piney Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	559 Piney Creek Sch Road	Piney Creek	28663	Alleghany County	Alleghany County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 359-2988	198	14	14.3	—	177 (89.4%)	1 (0.5%)	17 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	73.7	348^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.7%		42.1	878^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.1%	530	70.6	75.0	65.0	75.9	73.3	81.3	72.2	66.7	65.0	58.6	60.0	68.8	75.0	87.5	$11,143	$1,164	$9,979
Traphill Elementary School	Public	K-5	9794 Traphill Rd	Traphill	28685	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 651-7160	73	7	10.8	95.9%	63 (86.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)	56.9	626^th of 1492 public elementary schools	58.0%		42.5	871^st of 1490 public elementary schools	41.5%	245	75.0	56.3	72.7				58.3	50.0	45.5				90.9		$13,971	$1,750	$12,220
Mountain Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	505 Mountain Park Rd	State Road	28676	Surry County	Surry County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 874-3933	188	16	12.0	—	134 (71.3%)	1 (0.5%)	46 (24.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.7%)	57.5	619^th of 1492 public elementary schools	58.5%		72.4	355^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.2%	264	42.3	61.1	66.7				46.2	83.3	57.1				81.0		$12,952	$1,919	$11,033
Cedar Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	734 Flippin Road	Lowgap	27024	Surry County	Surry County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 352-4320	348	25	14.1	—	244 (70.1%)	4 (1.1%)	90 (25.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.9%)	32.1	1054^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.4%		45.9	819^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.0%	235	73.2	42.2	42.9				57.1	48.4	38.1				54.0		$9,811	$1,760	$8,051
Mountain View Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5464 Mountain View Rd	Hays	28635	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 696-5512	488	32	15.3	—	402 (82.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.8%)	34.7	1016^th of 1492 public elementary schools	31.9%		25.3	1177^th of 1490 public elementary schools	21.0%	161	67.2	44.6	42.3				51.7	53.0	50.0				53.8		$10,717	$1,320	$9,397
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2789 Hwy 221 N	Jefferson	28640	Ashe County	Ashe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 649-8520	566	40	13.9	—	446 (78.8%)	2 (0.4%)	103 (18.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)	57.1	625^th of 1492 public elementary schools	58.1%		58.6	587^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.6%	38	65.7	61.8	60.2	73.6			52.9	52.9	49.5	62.5			76.3		$11,175	$1,600	$9,575
Mulberry Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	190 Mulberry School Rd	North Wilkesboro	28659	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 667-4641	419	27	15.6	—	290 (69.2%)	7 (1.7%)	98 (23.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.7%)	76.9	278^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.4%		67.7	435^th of 1490 public elementary schools	70.8%	157	82.4	78.2	80.3				66.2	74.5	52.1				76.1		$10,621	$1,175	$9,446

Frequently Asked Questions about Sparta Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Sparta Elementary?

Students at Sparta Elementary are 62% White, 35% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is Sparta Elementary a good school?

Sparta Elementary ranks 1077^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Sparta Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 523 students attended Sparta Elementary.

What district is Sparta Elementary in?

Alleghany County Schools

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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.