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Freedom Trail Elementary

Q: Is Freedom Trail Elementary a good school?

Freedom Trail Elementary ranks 557 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

557^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Freedom Trail Elementary is a small, rural school in Elk Park, North Carolina, serving 202 students in grades PK through 5 as part of Avery County Schools. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 94.1% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of about 13:1.

Freedom Trail has several notable strengths. The school performs exceptionally well for its low-income students, who rank in the 82nd–84th percentile statewide compared to similar students — a sign that the school is effectively supporting its large economically disadvantaged population. Early-grade academics are also solid: 3rd grade math proficiency was 84.4% compared to 66.4% statewide, and 3rd grade reading reached 68.8% versus 55.6% statewide. The school held a 4-star rating from 2020-21 through 2023-24 and currently holds a 3-star rating. Among the four Avery County elementary campuses with recent ranking data, it is the second-highest rated, trailing only Banner Elk Elementary.

The school's biggest challenges are chronic absenteeism and upper-grade performance. In 2024-25, 26.4% of students were chronically absent, well above the Avery County average of 20.2% and dramatically higher than nearby Banner Elk Elementary at 8.7% and Crossnore Elementary at 5.3%, despite similar poverty levels. Upper-grade reading and science scores have also slipped, with 5th grade reading at 43.8% proficiency versus 55.3% statewide and 5th grade science at 50.0% versus 67.7% statewide. The science decline has been steady, falling from 85.7% proficiency in 2022-23 to 50.0% in 2025-26. Because Banner Elk Elementary, just 5.9 miles away with nearly identical demographics, outperforms Freedom Trail in most subjects, improving attendance may be a key lever for the school to address.

202

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

94.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

6110 North US Hwy 19E
Elk Park, NC 28622

(828) 733-2932

District: Avery County Schools

Students who attend Freedom Trail Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cranberry Middle
High:	Avery County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.1%

Hispanic:

8.4%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Freedom Trail Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 65th percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 18 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg63%

North Carolina avg61%

557^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

102^nd of 246Avery 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	61.4	557 of 1492	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.0	500 of 1490	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.5	287 of 1505	80.9%	★★★★☆
2023	78.1	272 of 1502	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	78.9	259 of 1514	82.9%	★★★★☆
2021	69.7	403 of 1489	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	60.4	563 of 1473	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.3	641 of 1434	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	71.0	385 of 1429	73.1%	★★★★☆
2016	63.9	496 of 1425	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.4	567 of 1440	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	46.3	760 of 1390	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.3	880 of 1403	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	64.6	519 of 1388	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.4	676 of 1381	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	80.9	177 of 1363	87.0%	★★★★☆
2009	70.0	394 of 1354	70.9%	★★★★☆
2008	68.9	370 of 1324	72.1%	★★★★☆
2007	67.5	398 of 1293	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.6	562 of 1276	56.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	69.2	377 of 1451	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	77.1	257 of 1455	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	78.5	235 of 1459	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	70.1	378 of 1458	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	59.3	539 of 1440	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.8	638 of 1424	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.0	709 of 1405	49.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.7	253 of 1434	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	73.2	260 of 1437	81.9%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	228 of 1450	84.3%	★★★★☆
2023	74.6	244 of 1437	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	88.8	62 of 1366	95.5%	★★★★★
2021	80.9	137 of 1329	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	70.7	298 of 1361	78.1%	★★★★☆
2018	62.6	444 of 1332	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.2	616 of 1451	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.5	715 of 1450	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.3	314 of 1464	78.6%	★★★★☆
2023	73.1	328 of 1461	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	81.5	207 of 1464	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	76.4	293 of 1444	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	63.9	469 of 1430	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.7	497 of 1413	64.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.2	666 of 1146	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.3	713 of 1172	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.5	476 of 1166	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.5	469 of 1183	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.3	522 of 1194	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.3	748 of 1172	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	841 of 1183	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.4	781 of 1178	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile+20 vs school

Female (2025)74th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)58th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics77%+14 vs state

Reading56%~ state avg

Science50%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Freedom Trail 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
Freedom Trail Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6110 North US Hwy 19E	Elk Park	28622	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 733-2932	202	15	13.0	94.1%	178 (88.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	61.4	557^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.7%		64	500^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.4%	57	84.4	74.1	68.8				68.8	48.1	43.8				50.0		$12,077	$1,306	$10,771
Newland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	750 Linville Street	Newland	28657	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 733-4911	214	16	13.6	96.7%	121 (56.5%)	1 (0.5%)	91 (42.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	31.9	1059^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.0%		28.5	1110^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.5%	51	45.2	52.8	70.8				32.3	52.8	50.0				50.0		$13,995	$1,835	$12,160
Banner Elk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Orchard Lane	Banner Elk	28604	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 737-5700	159	10	15.3	92.5%	139 (87.4%)	2 (1.3%)	14 (8.8%)	4 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	89.9	114^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.4%		90.5	104^th of 1490 public elementary schools	93.0%	10	81.0	90.0	83.3				81.0	83.3	83.3				72.2		$11,831	$1,739	$10,092
Crossnore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Walt Clark Road	Crossnore	28616	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 737-7204	184	15	12.1	—	152 (82.6%)	1 (0.5%)	27 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	51.8	699^th of 1492 public elementary schools	53.2%		53.7	678^th of 1490 public elementary schools	54.5%	21	61.3	68.4	84.0				32.3	52.6	48.0				80.0		$12,666	$1,132	$11,534
Valle Crucis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2736 Broadstone Road	Banner Elk	28604	Avery County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 263-1821	345	27	12.5	40.3%	285 (82.6%)	4 (1.2%)	48 (13.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.7%)	68.5	450^th of 1492 public elementary schools	69.8%		66.4	462^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	69.0%	12	76.7	60.4	71.0	73.2	73.2	65.9	50.0	56.3	71.0	78.0	65.9	68.2	74.2	79.5	$10,351	$520	$9,831
Riverside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8020 US 19E Hwy South	Newland	28657	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 737-5600	98	7	14.3	96.9%	89 (90.8%)	3 (3.1%)	5 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	51.9	692^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	53.6%		25.1	1180^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.8%	488	85.7	75.0	50.0				64.3	50.0	40.0				40.0		$12,645	$1,329	$11,316
Bethel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	138 Bethel School Rd	Sugar Grove	28679	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 297-2240	128	17	7.7	55.5%	115 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.0%)	46.9	785^th of 1492 public elementary schools	47.4%		60.8	550^th of 1490 public elementary schools	63.1%	235	43.8	38.5	50.0	78.6	75.0	50.0	50.0	46.2	80.0	64.3	58.3	80.0	70.0	90.0	$14,795	$1,301	$13,494
Gouge Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	134 Laurel Street	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 766-2260	144	13	11.0	97.9%	135 (93.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)								(n/a)															$11,440	$2,103	$9,338
Cove Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	930 Vanderpool Rd	Vilas	28692	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 297-2781	289	23	12.6	41.2%	252 (87.2%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (7.6%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	68.4	451^st of 1492 public elementary schools	69.8%		66.6	457^th of 1490 public elementary schools	69.3%	6	80.6	30.0	75.0	76.0	81.6	52.2	66.7	40.0	68.8	76.0	76.3	65.2	68.8	65.2	$12,375	$859	$11,515
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	3-5	5035 S 226 Hwy Ste A	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(828) 766-2070	373	25	15.1	—	307 (82.3%)	1 (0.3%)	55 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	30.8	1075^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.9%					(n/a)	64.3	51.1	56.6				34.8	47.4	45.5				52.5

Frequently Asked Questions about Freedom Trail Elementary

How many students attend Freedom Trail Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 202 students attended Freedom Trail Elementary.

What district is Freedom Trail Elementary in?

Avery County Schools

What schools do graduates of Freedom Trail Elementary attend?

Students who attend Freedom Trail Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cranberry Middle
High : Avery County High

Is Freedom Trail Elementary a good school?

Freedom Trail Elementary ranks 557^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Freedom Trail Elementary?

Students at Freedom Trail Elementary are 88% White, 8% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

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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.