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Valmead Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1442^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Valmead Elementary is a PK–5 school in Lenoir, NC, serving 305 students in the Caldwell County Schools district. Valmead is currently one of the lowest-performing elementary schools in North Carolina, ranking in the 3rd percentile statewide with a 0-star rating. Proficiency in math and reading trails district and state averages by roughly 20 to 35 percentage points in nearly every grade. Attendance is a major concern as well: 36.7% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, compared with about 23% across both the district and state, and that rate has stayed between 36% and 43% for the past four years.

Nearby schools with similar levels of economic disadvantage show these results are not inevitable. Hudson Elementary and Collettsville School, both with 97–99% free/reduced lunch eligibility, rank in the 62nd and 63rd percentiles respectively, while Valmead sits near the very bottom. Fifth-grade math proficiency is 74% at Hudson versus 26.5% at Valmead. Chronic absenteeism also separates Valmead from its neighbors: Whitnel Elementary (12.2%), Davenport A+ School (14.9%), Lower Creek Elementary (17.3%), and Hudson (18.6%) all have far lower rates than Valmead’s 36.7%. Only Kings Creek Elementary (30.3%) and Happy Valley Elementary (31.1%) approach Valmead’s level.

Valmead actually spends more per student than many better-performing peers—$13,388 versus roughly $9,500 at Hudson or Collettsville—yet outcomes remain lower, raising questions about how resources are being used. The student-to-teacher ratio has also jumped from 13.4 to 16.7 in the past two years. Recent test scores show declines in upper grades, although third-grade reading improved. The broader pattern suggests any meaningful turnaround will likely require systemic changes focused on attendance and early literacy—not just additional funding.

305

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

111 Elizabeth Drive NW
Lenoir, NC 28645-3936

(828) 754-9612

District: Caldwell County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.6%

Hispanic:

24.6%

African American:

20.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Valmead Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 17th percentile in 2013 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (35% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg61%

1,442^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 3% (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	8.2	1442 of 1492	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.2	1323 of 1490	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	1263 of 1505	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	1489 of 1502	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.9	1328 of 1434	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	20.8	1207 of 1429	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.3	1023 of 1425	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	29.3	1088 of 1440	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	30.0	1006 of 1390	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.8	1160 of 1403	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	50.1	770 of 1388	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	72.8	344 of 1381	75.1%	★★★★☆
2010	74.4	306 of 1363	77.5%	★★★★☆
2009	69.9	398 of 1354	70.6%	★★★★☆
2008	51.6	686 of 1324	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	77.5	211 of 1293	83.7%	★★★★☆
2006	55.4	614 of 1276	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	7.6	1410 of 1447	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.6	1347 of 1451	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	1195 of 1455	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	2.3	1458 of 1459	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.7	1401 of 1405	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	919 of 981	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	26.0	795 of 961	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	877 of 951	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	864 of 915	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.6	1309 of 1434	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	31.0	1101 of 1437	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	1164 of 1450	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	7.9	1412 of 1437	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.3	1163 of 1332	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.2	1225 of 1451	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.5	1187 of 1450	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.2	1270 of 1464	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.1	1398 of 1461	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.4	1105 of 1413	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	723 of 821	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	3.5	1138 of 1146	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.5	1139 of 1172	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	1073 of 1166	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	1.0	1180 of 1183	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.1	1176 of 1178	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2026)16th percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2025)12th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)9th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)6th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)3rd percentile~ school

White (2026)1st percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science49%-19 vs state

Mathematics33%-31 vs state

Reading32%-24 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

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3★0

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, May 14, 2018

Love the school and the teachers. With the small size of the school, the kids really get the extra attention they deserve. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

I could not possibly think of a better school for my child. The teachers are remarkable! The most caring, loving, kind, and helpful teachers I know. The principal is one of the most amazing women, She goes out of her way to better know her students and their parents. Close Quote

Schools Near Valmead 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Collettsville School	Public	PK, KG-8	4690 Collettsville School Rd	Collettsville	28611	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6913	321	20	16.3	98.8%	299 (93.1%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	61.9	549^th of 1492 public elementary schools	63.2%		37.9	952^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	36.1%	403	73.3	72.7	53.8	65.1	50.0	58.3	56.7	72.7	50.0	58.1	55.3	69.4	65.4	75.0	$9,454	$800	$8,654

Frequently Asked Questions about Valmead Elementary

How many students attend Valmead Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 305 students attended Valmead Elementary.

Is Valmead Elementary a good school?

Valmead Elementary ranks in the bottom 3.4% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Valmead Elementary?

Students at Valmead Elementary are 44% White, 25% Hispanic, 20% African American, 11% Two or more races.

What district is Valmead Elementary in?

Caldwell 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.