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Central Elementary

Q: Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 903 rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

903^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Barco, NC, serving 264 students and is part of the highly regarded Currituck County Schools district.

While Central is part of a strong district, it stands out as the lowest-performing elementary school within it. The school currently ranks in the 39th percentile statewide, while nearby schools like Moyock Elementary and Shawboro Elementary School rank in the 68th percentile, and Knotts Island Elementary ranks in the 82nd percentile. Test scores in both reading and math are consistently below district averages, and the gap tends to widen by 5th grade. For example, reading proficiency for 5th graders is 41.7%, compared to the district's 62.5%. This pattern suggests students can start off reasonably well but have difficulty maintaining momentum as they progress through the grades.

Perhaps the most significant factor distinguishing Central is chronic absenteeism, which affects 28.6% of its students. This rate is roughly double that of other nearby schools, including W T Griggs Elementary (16.8%) and Camden Intermediate (16.0%), even though those schools serve similar or higher percentages of low-income families. Importantly, poverty does not appear to explain Central's performance gap, and the school actually spends more per pupil than some higher-performing neighbors. This points to attendance and instructional consistency, rather than funding or demographics, as the likely drivers of the school's challenges. One encouraging bright spot is that Central's special education students perform comparatively well, ranking in the 59th percentile, which suggests effective supports exist that could potentially be expanded to other students.

264

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

44.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

504 Shortcut Road
Barco, NC 27917

(252) 453-0010

District: Currituck County Schools

Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Currituck County Middle
High:	Currituck County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.2%

Two or more races:

14.0%

Hispanic:

10.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (55% vs 61% meeting standards)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg66%

North Carolina avg61%

903^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

49^th of 246Currituck 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	40.2	903 of 1492	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	771 of 1490	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.2	1095 of 1505	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.5	856 of 1502	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	909 of 1514	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.4	591 of 1489	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.1	691 of 1473	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.0	593 of 1434	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	43.7	860 of 1429	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	27.5	1111 of 1425	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	47.1	796 of 1440	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	33.4	963 of 1390	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.0	949 of 1403	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	62.0	561 of 1388	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.7	371 of 1381	73.1%	★★★★☆
2010	61.6	581 of 1363	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	75.0	291 of 1354	78.5%	★★★★☆
2008	64.1	466 of 1324	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	68.5	381 of 1293	70.5%	★★★★☆
2006	76.3	226 of 1276	82.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.8	879 of 1447	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.8	883 of 1451	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.6	1106 of 1455	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	54.2	654 of 1459	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	688 of 1458	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.8	527 of 1440	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.9	975 of 1424	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.8	592 of 1405	57.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.9	1047 of 1434	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.5	1005 of 1437	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.4	1265 of 1450	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.6	804 of 1437	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.0	724 of 1361	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.9	956 of 1332	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.2	893 of 1451	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.1	563 of 1450	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.6	998 of 1464	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.4	1027 of 1461	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.3	1015 of 1464	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.2	606 of 1444	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.7	416 of 1430	70.9%	★★★★☆
2018	58.3	589 of 1413	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	15.5	80 of 85	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	332 of 815	59.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.5	873 of 1146	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.8	829 of 1172	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.2	1102 of 1166	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.0	1015 of 1183	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.4	1052 of 1194	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.9	784 of 1172	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.9	946 of 1183	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.2	662 of 1178	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)59th percentile+20 vs school

Female (2026)39th percentile~ school

Male (2026)38th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)24th percentile-16 vs school

Military Connected (2022)6th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science67%~ state avg

Mathematics56%-8 vs state

Reading50%-7 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Though this school has a high number of free and reduce lunch, the students meet expected growth in testing. The staff is very loving and spends a lot of time with students. They have an innovative leadership program which started here and is spreading to other schools. They strongly encourage parent involvement and sincerely focus on the individual needs of students. Don't let the numbers discourage you because there is more to learning than just testing. This school has it! Close Quote

Schools Near Central 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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	504 Shortcut Road	Barco	27917	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 453-0010	264	16	16.6	44.7%	172 (65.2%)	26 (9.8%)	27 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	37 (14.0%)	40.2	903^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	39.5%		48.3	771^st of 1490 public elementary schools	48.3%	132	63.6	57.1	44.4	59.1	45.7	41.7	66.7	$12,758	$1,371	$11,388
Shawboro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	370 Shawboro Road	Shawboro	27973	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 232-2237	625	39	16.0	35.7%	484 (77.4%)	36 (5.8%)	47 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	53 (8.5%)	66.7	474^th of 1492 public elementary schools	68.2%		68.4	420^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.8%	54	82.0	63.5	59.0	65.0	59.1	62.0	77.0	$9,905	$834	$9,070
Water's Edge Village School	Public, Charter	K-8	1126 Schoolhouse Lane	Corolla	27927	Currituck County	Water's Edge Village School	Yes	No	No	No	(252) 453-4502	50	4	12.5	—	38 (76.0%)	2 (4.0%)	5 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (10.0%)								(n/a)		61.5			69.2
Knotts Island Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	413 Woodleigh Road	Knotts Island	27950	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 722-0770	91	7	13.0	44.0%	78 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.3%)	1 (1.1%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (8.8%)	77.2	276^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.5%		85	173^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	88.4%	103	93.8	64.7	90.9	75.0	52.9	63.6	90.9	$18,970	$771	$18,200
W T Griggs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	261 Poplar Branch Road	Poplar Branch	27965	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 453-2700	258	19	13.6	58.1%	167 (64.7%)	1 (0.4%)	61 (23.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (11.2%)	70.2	411^th of 1492 public elementary schools	72.5%		75.5	311^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.1%	100	92.9	78.4	53.8	59.5	75.7	63.5	71.2	$10,878	$606	$10,272
Grandy Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	175 NC Hwy 343 North	Camden	27921	Camden County	Camden County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 331-4838	415	33	12.4	30.1%	332 (80.0%)	27 (6.5%)	24 (5.8%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	26 (6.3%)								(n/a)								$10,230	$633	$9,597
Camden Intermediate	Public	3-5	123 Noblitt Drive	Camden	27921	Camden County	Camden County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-7808	461	29	15.9	29.5%	378 (82.0%)	21 (4.6%)	30 (6.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.1%)	64.7	509^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.9%		69.4	404^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.9%	105	88.0	69.3	62.0	65.4	57.2	56.0	68.7	$9,295	$649	$8,646
Moyock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	255 Tulls Creek Road	Moyock	27958	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 435-6521	740	36	20.7	21.1%	545 (73.6%)	34 (4.6%)	74 (10.0%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (10.9%)	66.3	484^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.6%		71.5	367^th of 1490 public elementary schools	75.4%	117	70.1	58.6	77.3	58.1	62.1	65.2	74.2	$8,539	$473	$8,067
J C Sawyer Elementary	Public	K-5	1007 Park St	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 338-1012	400	29	13.7	—	105 (26.3%)	192 (48.0%)	67 (16.8%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	28 (7.0%)	49.4	739^th of 1492 public elementary schools	50.5%		40.1	915^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.6%	176	73.3	55.7	62.8	71.7	45.5	41.9	67.4	$10,349	$1,235	$9,114
Sheep-Harney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 W Elizabeth St	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-4303	441	27	16.0	—	112 (25.4%)	195 (44.2%)	85 (19.3%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.2%)	46.9	784^th of 1492 public elementary schools	47.5%		39.2	933^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	37.4%	149	46.6	56.9	76.6	50.0	56.9	47.9	72.9	$10,082	$1,732	$8,350

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

How many students attend Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 264 students attended Central Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary?

Students at Central Elementary are 65% White, 14% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 10% African American.

Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 903^rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Elementary in?

Currituck County Schools

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Currituck County Middle
High : Currituck County High

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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.