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Lower Creek Elementary

Q: Is Lower Creek Elementary a good school?

Lower Creek Elementary ranks 829 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

829^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 44% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Lower Creek Elementary is a K-5 school in Lenoir, NC, serving 396 students within the Caldwell County Schools district, where more than 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—a level of economic need similar to most nearby schools.

Lower Creek currently ranks in the 44th percentile statewide (2 stars), below the state median but still stronger than most schools within a short drive. Nearby Valmead Elementary (3rd percentile), Whitnel Elementary (9th), Gamewell Elementary (10th), Kings Creek Elementary (2nd), and Davenport A+ School (29th) all rank well below it. However, the school has declined steadily from the 79th percentile in 2022–23, and the drop is most visible in math. In the most recent year, 3rd through 5th grade math proficiency landed between 52% and 53%, compared with 61–66% across the state. Just a few years earlier, Lower Creek's math scores exceeded state averages in every grade level, so this marks a significant shift.

Reading and science remain clear strengths. Lower Creek consistently outperforms its district in reading and roughly matches state averages, with 4th grade reading at 61.2% proficiency versus 57.7% statewide. Fifth grade science reached 65.2% proficiency, well above most neighboring schools. Attendance has also improved sharply, with chronic absenteeism falling from 33.4% to 17.3%—far better than the district and state averages. Hudson Elementary is the one nearby school that consistently ranks higher overall, though Lower Creek actually beats Hudson in several reading measures. With strong reading and science foundations already in place, Lower Creek appears well positioned to recover in math and climb back toward its previous ranking.

396

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

630 Lower Creek Drive NE
Lenoir, NC 28645-4524

(828) 754-4022

District: Caldwell County Schools

Students who attend Lower Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	William Lenoir Middle
High:	Hibriten High

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.7%

Hispanic:

11.1%

Two or more races:

9.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Lower Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 44th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

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

!Mathematics scores 11 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg61%

829^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to bottom 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

162^nd of 246Caldwell 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	44.9	829 of 1492	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	60.6	553 of 1490	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.4	498 of 1505	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.4	317 of 1502	78.9%	★★★★☆
2022	66.3	466 of 1514	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.3	535 of 1489	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.2	362 of 1473	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	72.9	347 of 1434	75.8%	★★★★☆
2017	68.7	431 of 1429	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.4	671 of 1425	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.9	434 of 1440	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.2	479 of 1390	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.3	483 of 1403	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	71.1	376 of 1388	72.9%	★★★★☆
2011	70.2	397 of 1381	71.3%	★★★★☆
2010	71.9	352 of 1363	74.2%	★★★★☆
2009	60.4	598 of 1354	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.1	493 of 1324	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	57.5	599 of 1293	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	61.9	504 of 1276	60.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	48.9	249 of 646	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.0	243 of 897	72.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.9	955 of 1447	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.8	772 of 1451	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.2	557 of 1455	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.9	337 of 1459	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	55.4	642 of 1458	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.6	776 of 1440	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.9	506 of 1424	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.1	431 of 1405	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	646 of 743	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	57.7	379 of 710	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.3	456 of 669	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	68.0	102 of 582	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	37.9	434 of 500	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	55.1	282 of 494	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.1	206 of 612	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	752 of 981	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	81.6	91 of 851	89.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.6	817 of 1434	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	63.6	419 of 1437	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	73.1	271 of 1450	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.4	281 of 1437	80.4%	★★★★☆
2022	55.7	552 of 1366	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.3	415 of 1329	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.5	551 of 1361	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.6	331 of 1332	75.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	643 of 1451	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.3	377 of 1450	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	67.2	431 of 1464	70.6%	★★★★☆
2023	74.3	308 of 1461	78.9%	★★★★☆
2022	73.9	322 of 1464	78.0%	★★★★☆
2021	73.6	340 of 1444	76.5%	★★★★☆
2019	77.0	256 of 1430	82.1%	★★★★☆
2018	75.2	290 of 1413	79.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	71.7	117 of 801	85.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.9	868 of 1146	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.7	721 of 1172	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.3	569 of 1166	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	431 of 1183	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.6	644 of 1194	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.5	743 of 1172	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.2	530 of 1183	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.4	588 of 1178	50.1%	★★★☆☆

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 (2024)85th percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2021)61st percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)56th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)34th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)24th percentile-20 vs school

Hispanic (2026)23rd percentile-21 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)13th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science65%~ state avg

Reading58%~ state avg

Mathematics53%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lower Creek 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 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
Lower Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	630 Lower Creek Drive NE	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-4022	396	23	17.4	99.2%	280 (70.7%)	28 (7.1%)	44 (11.1%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.8%)	44.9	829^th of 1492 public elementary schools	44.4%		60.6	553^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	62.9%	276	52.5	52.2	53.0				54.1	61.2	57.6				65.2		$8,688	$857	$7,832
Horizons Elementary	Public	K-5	332 Greenhaven Dr. NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 726-3855	29	13	2.3	89.7%	21 (72.4%)	3 (10.3%)	4 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.4%)								(n/a)															$39,602	$516	$39,086
Davenport A+ School	Public	PK, KG-5	901 College Avenue SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6941	429	25	17.4	99.3%	163 (38.0%)	56 (13.1%)	162 (37.8%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (10.3%)	31.8	1060^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.0%		41.7	886^th of 1490 public elementary schools	40.5%	174	44.3	45.9	59.2				41.4	45.9	52.1				63.4		$9,609	$958	$8,651
Valmead Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Elizabeth Drive NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-9612	305	18	16.7	97.4%	133 (43.6%)	62 (20.3%)	75 (24.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.1%)	8.2	1442^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	3.4%		17.2	1323^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	11.2%	119	39.0	34.1	26.5				34.1	34.1	28.6				49.0		$13,388	$1,976	$11,412
Whitnel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1425 Berkley Street SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-6423	330	16	20.0	94.8%	196 (59.4%)	27 (8.2%)	79 (23.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.6%)	15.2	1360^th of 1492 public elementary schools	8.8%		26.5	1146^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.1%	214	46.3	30.6	40.5				34.1	36.1	42.9				54.8		$11,973	$1,307	$10,666
Hudson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Roy Coffey Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-3712	665	34	19.4	97.0%	506 (76.1%)	17 (2.6%)	88 (13.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.5%)	60.1	573^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	61.6%		56.3	629^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.8%	56	66.0	56.6	74.0				53.4	51.6	69.2				80.0		$9,567	$1,023	$8,544
Oak Hill Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4603 Oak Hill School Rd.	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Oak Hill Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(828) 759-1383	253	17	15.3		213 (84.2%)	6 (2.4%)	13 (5.1%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	14.9	1364^th of 1492 public elementary schools	8.6%		24.9	1188^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.3%	176	54.1	45.0	37.5	30.0	27.8	37.5	32.4	40.0	33.3	40.0	33.3	50.0	45.8	43.8
Happy Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1350 Yadkin River Road	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-3496	234	13	18.5	97.9%	212 (90.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.1%)	21.8	1254^th of 1492 public elementary schools	16.0%		32.7	1042^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	30.1%	212	38.5	46.9	25.0	70.6	53.3	61.9	34.6	50.0	37.5	47.1	70.0	61.9	37.5	71.4	$10,168	$1,178	$8,990
Gamewell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2904 Morganton Boulevard	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 758-1193	459	27	16.8	99.3%	320 (69.7%)	40 (8.7%)	49 (10.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.0%)	16.5	1343^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	10.0%		25.2	1179^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.9%	164	42.9	45.8	27.5				38.6	54.2	33.8				37.5		$9,383	$1,070	$8,312
Sawmills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4436 Sawmills School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2610	351	20	17.2	99.1%	272 (77.5%)	7 (2.0%)	46 (13.1%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	32.5	1049^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.7%		36.5	973^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.7%	76	51.0	35.4	58.8				51.0	52.1	52.9				55.9		$11,245	$974	$10,271

Frequently Asked Questions about Lower Creek Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Lower Creek Elementary?

Students at Lower Creek Elementary are 71% White, 11% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 7% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Lower Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lower Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : William Lenoir Middle
High : Hibriten High

How many students attend Lower Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 396 students attended Lower Creek Elementary.

What district is Lower Creek Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

Is Lower Creek Elementary a good school?

Lower Creek Elementary ranks 829^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Lower Creek Elementary!

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Schools in Lenoir, NC

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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.