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Whitnel Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1146^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Whitnel Elementary is a public elementary school located in Lenoir, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 267 students. The school is part of the Caldwell County Schools district, which is ranked 141 out of 242 districts in the state.

Whitnel Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina elementary schools, with its performance on state standardized tests (EOG) generally below the Caldwell County and North Carolina averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics ranged from 43.8% to 60.6%, compared to 54% to 61.6% for Caldwell County and 58.9% to 64.1% for North Carolina. Similarly, in Reading, Whitnel Elementary's proficiency rates ranged from 25% to 54.5%, compared to 44.8% to 50.7% for Caldwell County and 46.7% to 58.1% for North Carolina.

Despite having a relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher per-student spending compared to nearby schools like Granite Falls Elementary and Sawmills Elementary, Whitnel Elementary is still underperforming. This suggests that the school may need to re-evaluate how it is allocating its resources and consider implementing more targeted interventions or strategies to improve student outcomes, particularly for its diverse student population, which includes a high percentage of low socioeconomic status students.

330

Students ?

20.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,973

Per pupil spending ?

94.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1425 Berkley Street SW
Lenoir, NC 28645

(828) 728-6423

District: Caldwell County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.4%

Hispanic:

23.9%

African American:

8.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Whitnel Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 8th percentile in 2023 → 23rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 23rd (2025) from a 8th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (44% vs 57% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school44%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg57%

1,146^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 29% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 13Elementary Schools in the Caldwell County Schools

141^st of 242Caldwell 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
2025	26.5	1146 of 1490	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.6	1035 of 1505	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	11.9	1389 of 1502	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.9	1269 of 1514	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.6	1231 of 1489	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.9	1006 of 1473	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.4	1016 of 1434	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	41.6	896 of 1429	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.0	988 of 1425	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.1	1017 of 1440	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	38.2	885 of 1390	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	27.9	1064 of 1403	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.4	937 of 1388	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	16.3	1251 of 1381	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	9.0	1297 of 1363	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	24.2	1101 of 1354	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	13.9	1203 of 1324	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	15.7	1171 of 1293	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	32.1	981 of 1276	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	42.7	309 of 634	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.7	560 of 646	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.6	530 of 897	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.5	223 of 563	60.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	1063 of 1451	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.2	1053 of 1455	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.6	1368 of 1459	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	1403 of 1458	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	1198 of 1440	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.4	1054 of 1424	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.7	968 of 1405	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	65.3	118 of 612	80.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	6.5	954 of 961	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.2	894 of 915	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.4	705 of 851	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.7	1000 of 1437	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.8	704 of 1450	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	23.3	1204 of 1437	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	1073 of 1366	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.3	833 of 1329	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.7	563 of 1361	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.0	565 of 1332	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	24.9	1164 of 1450	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.3	984 of 1464	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.6	1259 of 1461	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.5	904 of 1464	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.6	1052 of 1444	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.0	917 of 1430	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.8	1043 of 1413	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	21.8	1007 of 1172	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	1015 of 1166	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	3.6	1170 of 1183	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	1154 of 1194	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.1	1170 of 1172	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.6	1028 of 1183	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.4	1031 of 1178	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2019)81st percentile+49 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)60th percentile+37 vs school

Disabled (2022)51st percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)14th percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)1st percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics48%-13 vs state

Science47%-15 vs state

Reading39%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whitnel Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
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%)	26.5	1146^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.1%		33.6	1035^th of 1505 public elementary schools	31.2%	111	43.8	60.6	43.8				25.0	54.5	37.5				46.9		$11,973	$1,307	$10,666
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%)	41.7	886^th of 1490 public elementary schools	40.5%		36.7	981^st of 1505 public elementary schools	34.8%	95	42.0	51.3	66.2				34.8	50.0	59.1				59.1		$9,609	$958	$8,651
Lower Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-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%)	60.6	553^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	62.9%		64.4	498^th of 1505 public elementary schools	66.9%	55	72.7	52.2	59.7				47.0	59.7	68.7				64.2		$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
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%)	17.2	1323^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	11.2%		21.3	1263^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	16.1%	60	45.8	37.0	39.5				22.9	39.1	37.2				51.2		$13,388	$1,976	$11,412
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%)	56.3	629^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.8%		57.2	631^st of 1505 public elementary schools	58.1%	2	64.7	53.0	68.6				42.0	62.0	49.0				72.5		$9,567	$1,023	$8,544
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%)	25.2	1179^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.9%		15.2	1359^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.7%	180	54.1	29.6	22.8				55.3	35.4	36.7				50.6		$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%)	36.5	973^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.7%		33.8	1033^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	31.4%	60	59.6	38.6	52.9				42.3	45.5	45.1				58.8		$11,245	$974	$10,271
Baton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Baton School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-9531	357	23	15.4	99.2%	303 (84.9%)	6 (1.7%)	29 (8.1%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	60	564^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.1%		60.8	568^th of 1505 public elementary schools	62.3%	4	68.0	62.7	56.9				52.0	58.8	52.3				70.8		$9,953	$1,175	$8,778
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%)	24.9	1188^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.3%		14.5	1367^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.2%	179	80.0	28.6	40.9	25.0	27.8	13.6	55.0	33.3	40.9	25.0	16.7	54.5	22.7	59.1

Frequently Asked Questions about Whitnel Elementary

How many students attend Whitnel Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 330 students attended Whitnel Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Whitnel Elementary?

Students at Whitnel Elementary are 59% White, 24% Hispanic, 8% African American, 8% Two or more races.

What district is Whitnel Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

Is Whitnel Elementary a good school?

Whitnel Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.1% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Rate Whitnel Elementary!

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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.