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Anderson Creek Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-5
77th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 95% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Anderson Creek Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 292 students in grades K-5 in Spring Lake, North Carolina. The school is part of the Anderson Creek Academy District, which is ranked 11th out of 242 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Anderson Creek Academy consistently outperforms the state and nearby district schools on standardized test scores. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school had significantly higher proficiency rates than the state average in mathematics (ranging from 79.5% to 93.2% across grades 3-5) and reading (ranging from 75% to 86% across grades 3-5). This academic excellence is reflected in the school's high statewide rankings, with the school ranking in the top 5% of Anderson Creek Academy elementary schools in recent years. Additionally, the school has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 15.5 to 26.3 students per teacher in recent years, lower than the ratios of many nearby district schools.

While Anderson Creek Academy outperforms the nearby Harnett County Schools and Cumberland County Schools on most academic metrics, it is important to note that the surrounding schools serve a much higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students. This likely contributes to the performance gap, as schools with higher concentrations of low-income students often face additional challenges in terms of resources and support. By continuing to build on its strengths and exploring opportunities for collaboration, Anderson Creek Academy can serve as a model for effective elementary education in the region.

305
Students ?
15.2
Student/teacher ratio ?
4.7%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 4940 Ray Road
       Spring Lake, NC  28390

(910) 814-9001

District: Anderson Creek Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:
57.0%
Hispanic:
14.8%
Two or more races:
12.1%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Anderson Creek Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2015 → 95th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the North Carolina average (82% vs 57% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 5% of North Carolina elementary schools
Ranking is trending up — up 28 percentile points since 2015
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school82%
North Carolina avg57%
77th of 1,490
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 5%▲ up 28 pts since 2015
From top 33% (2015) to top 5% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
11th of 242Anderson Creek Academy 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202592.677 of 149094.8%★★★★★
202489.6118 of 150592.2%★★★★★
202390.799 of 150293.4%★★★★★
202282.6213 of 151485.9%★★★★☆
202184.1194 of 148987.0%★★★★☆
201984.5173 of 147388.3%★★★★☆
201883.6175 of 143487.8%★★★★☆
201775.5316 of 142977.9%★★★★☆
201660.6549 of 142561.5%★★★☆☆
201566.2472 of 144067.2%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202590.683 of 145194.3%★★★★★
202489.899 of 145593.2%★★★★★
202389.699 of 145993.2%★★★★★
202284.9157 of 145889.2%★★★★☆
202183.7175 of 144087.8%★★★★☆
201976.7266 of 142481.3%★★★★☆
201882.8173 of 140587.7%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
201882.980 of 85190.6%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202597.46 of 143799.6%★★★★★
202490.151 of 145096.5%★★★★★
202390.941 of 143797.1%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202591.779 of 145094.6%★★★★★
202485.9151 of 146489.7%★★★★☆
202389.1106 of 146192.7%★★★★★
202275.1304 of 146479.2%★★★★☆
202179.7244 of 144483.1%★★★★☆
201989.0104 of 143092.7%★★★★★
201882.0188 of 141386.7%★★★★☆

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202572.511 of 7284.7%★★★★☆
202461.327 of 7564.0%★★★☆☆
202382.311 of 8186.4%★★★★☆
202249.048 of 8543.5%★★☆☆☆
202159.631 of 7659.2%★★★☆☆
201964.724 of 7266.7%★★★☆☆
201866.824 of 7668.4%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202583.6146 of 117287.5%★★★★☆
202481.1178 of 116684.7%★★★★☆
202382.4150 of 118387.3%★★★★☆
202269.4327 of 119472.6%★★★★☆
202165.9368 of 117268.6%★★★☆☆
201976.7224 of 118381.1%★★★★☆
201864.3413 of 117864.9%★★★☆☆
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)
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)100th percentile+5 vs school
Male (2025)95th percentile~ school
Female (2025)94th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2018)91st percentile+3 vs school
White (2025)88th percentile-7 vs school
Military Connected (2025)85th percentile-10 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?
Mathematics84%+23 vs state
Reading80%+28 vs state
Science80%+18 vs state

1.4
10 ratings · 9 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a parent
Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Open Quote 10/10 – Excellent School!

My daughter has attended this school for a few years, and we’ve had a wonderful experience. A bit overwhelming at first but then we loved it. The curriculum is challenging, but that’s one of the main reasons we chose it. She’s grown so much and still loves coming to school every day.

The teachers are caring and dedicated, and the principal and support staff are truly exceptional. The principal is sharp, talented, and runs the school with great attention to both academics and student well-being.

The school also feels very safe and secure, which is a huge plus for me as a parent. I highly recommend this school to any family looking for a place where students are both supported and challenged to do their best. - Nick H. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, August 11, 2024

Open Quote I, alongside many others, have serious concerns about the lack of safety and support for military families at Anderson Creek Academy, despite its Purple Heart "accreditation". The school has failed to implement essential support systems such as dedicated counseling, peer support programs, and resources for military parents. Furthermore, the school has experienced numerous lockdowns due to safety concerns, yet parents were never notified, leaving us in the dark about our children's safety.

The situation is compounded by the high turnover rate among staff, which the drastically under-qualified "Head of School" inaccurately attributes to “military moves.” Conversations with former staff reveal that their departures were due to mistreatment rather than relocations, and many newly hired staff have also left under similar circumstances. This school should urgently strengthen support programs, stabilize staffing, and improve communication regarding safety protocols. Military families deserve better, and immediate action is needed to align with the commitments of the Purple Heart accreditation. Close Quote


by a teacher
Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Open Quote Staff turnover very very high. New HOS and admin staff shes hired has ruined the school. Not a safe or good place to work OR put your children. Close Quote


by a teacher
Sunday, June 23, 2024

Open Quote Where do I begin? As a teacher, I've encountered an endless list of grievances that have pushed me to the brink of burnout at ACA. Here are just a few:

Unrealistic Expectations: Expected to perform miracles on a shoestring budget and limited resources.

Overwhelming Workload: Grading papers until the wee hours? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Lesson planning, meetings, and administrative tasks devour any semblance of free time.

Lack of Support: When it comes to student behavior issues or classroom management, it's often sink or swim. Support from administration? Rarely seen.

Constant Pressure: From standardized testing to parental expectations, the pressure cooker is always on high.

Low Pay: Working overtime with no compensation and still barely making ends meet? Thanks, but no thanks.

In conclusion, unless you enjoy stress, sleep deprivation, and being undervalued, steer clear of this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, May 19, 2024

Open Quote I am writing to express my profound disappointment regarding the enrollment process and subsequent experiences my family has had with Anderson Creek Academy.

When my wife and I decided to move into the Anderson Creek community, one of the primary factors influencing our decision was the assurance from our realtor that enrolling our child in your school would be seamless. However, this assurance proved to be far from the reality we encountered.

It took us over two years of persistent effort and advocacy to secure a place for our child in this school. Despite being assured of a fair process, we were met with bureaucratic hurdles and a seemingly arbitrary lottery system that left us feeling powerless and frustrated. Worse still, we discovered that the purported fairness of this system was merely a facade, with the principal seemingly hand-picking students at her own discretion.

Once our child finally gained admission, our concerns only grew. The reports we heard about the new principal's dismissive attitude towards parent concerns were unfortunately proven true in our interactions. Instances of bullying were brushed aside, and even simple requests regarding dress code were met with unnecessary rigidity. The insistence on specific uniform colors, including one to celebrate the principal on "principles Day," felt excessive and arbitrary.

As parents, we value education and community, but our experience with this school has left us disillusioned and disheartened. We implore the school to reassess enrollment process and administrative practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of all students and families. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, June 29, 2023

Open Quote Horrible school. Definitely questionable use of public funding as well. The principal has less than 5 years of overall teaching experience, and all teachers are brand new and hired based on their personal relationships with the principal. Teacher turnover is extremely high and children suffer academically due to this. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, June 9, 2023

Open Quote This school disappoints and fails to meet even the most basic standards. The campus itself is desolate and lacks essential facilities such as a cafeteria, sports, and music program, depriving students of a well-rounded education. However, it is the principal who truly taints the school's reputation. She exudes an off-putting demeanor, treating others with condescension and a sense of superiority. Her youth and inexperience clearly hinder her ability to lead effectively. Her self-centered nature is apparent in her relentless pursuit of the spotlight at every event, overshadowing the students' achievements. Additionally, the principal exhibits favoritism towards her friends on staff, granting them preferential treatment while expecting the same for her own child. This unfairness undermines the educational environment and harms the other children. ACA falls far short of providing a nurturing and equitable learning environment, leaving much to be desired. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Open Quote Went against my better judgement after reading the numerous online reviews and tried out this school… I should have listened to ya'll online! Don't make my mistake…do NOT send your child here! My son is now at public and doing MUCH better. ACA is unorganized… poorly managed… and constantly playing favorites with treatment of students, families, and faculty. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, April 24, 2020

Open Quote I honestly can't say anything good about this school except for the fact that we have had ONE good teacher since our child started attending. Compared to our experience with Harnett County public schools, this school as been awful. Communication is a serious problem and it really seems like the school administration either doesn't know what they are doing or simply does not care. I do not believe this school has our children's best interests at heart and would highly advise parents to enroll their children in one of the county schools. The county schools provide a much higher quality of education, communication and engagement. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Anderson Creek Academy

Yes. Anderson Creek Academy ranks in the top 5.2% of North Carolina elementary schools.

In the 2024-25 school year, 305 students attended Anderson Creek Academy.

Students at Anderson Creek Academy are 57% White, 15% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 12% African American, 3% American Indian.


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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.





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