Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Whitaker Elementary

Q: Is Whitaker Elementary a good school?

Whitaker Elementary ranks 157 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

157^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Whitaker Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Winston Salem, NC, serving about 490 students in the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district. The school has a long history of strong performance, ranking among the top 25 schools in North Carolina from 2015–16 through 2018–19. In the most recent 2025–26 school year, Whitaker ranks 157th out of 1,492 schools — an 89th-percentile result with 4 stars. That is a step back from its 2024–25 rank of 72nd (95th percentile), but it remains an excellent school, well above district and state averages in math, reading, and science.

Whitaker's academic results are strong across every grade and subject. In 2025–26, 3rd grade reading reached 77.5% proficiency versus 54.0% districtwide and 55.6% statewide; 5th grade math hit 81.5%, compared with 61.0% and 62.9%. Chronic absenteeism is also a major asset: just 9.0% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, far below the district's 33.6% and the state's 24.2%. The school serves a comparatively mixed-income population — 25.5% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch — while nearby schools such as Cook Literacy Model School, Kimberley Park Elementary, Bolton Elementary, Moore Magnet Elementary, and Brunson Elementary all have free/reduced lunch rates above 98% and chronic absenteeism ranging from 21% to 53%.

Whitaker's closest academic comparison among nearby schools is Sherwood Forest Elementary, which currently outranks it (97th percentile versus Whitaker's 89th). While overall numbers remain strong, the latest year brought a steep drop in 5th grade reading (85.1% to 71.7% proficiency) and smaller declines in 5th grade science and math. Results also dipped for African American and low-income students — an equity gap worth monitoring. Notably, Whitaker spends the least per student ($9,221) among nearby schools and has a higher student-teacher ratio (15.1) than most, yet still delivers results well above the district. Families will find excellent attendance and strong academics, with a few recent trends that deserve attention.

490

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

25.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

96.3%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 2.4% (any vaccine)

2600 Buena Vista Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104-2106

(336) 703-6740

District: Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

Students who attend Whitaker Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Wiley Magnet Middle
High:	Early College of Forsyth County
	Middle College of Forsyth County
	R J Reynolds High

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.4%

African American:

15.5%

Hispanic:

7.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Whitaker Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 98th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (78% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of North Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school78%

District avg58%

North Carolina avg61%

157^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 2% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

159^th of 246Winston Salem / Forsyth 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	87.0	157 of 1492	89.5%	★★★★☆
2025	93.1	72 of 1490	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	74 of 1505	95.1%	★★★★★
2023	88.0	133 of 1502	91.1%	★★★★★
2022	86.6	153 of 1514	89.9%	★★★★☆
2021	91.1	104 of 1489	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.0	24 of 1473	98.4%	★★★★★
2018	95.7	19 of 1434	98.7%	★★★★★
2017	94.8	21 of 1429	98.5%	★★★★★
2016	94.9	25 of 1425	98.2%	★★★★★
2015	96.3	13 of 1440	99.1%	★★★★★
2014	97.1	13 of 1390	99.1%	★★★★★
2013	95.9	33 of 1403	97.6%	★★★★★
2012	91.2	15 of 1388	98.9%	★★★★★
2011	91.8	7 of 1381	99.5%	★★★★★
2010	91.7	8 of 1363	99.4%	★★★★★
2009	90.8	33 of 1354	97.6%	★★★★★
2008	94.3	22 of 1324	98.3%	★★★★★
2007	78.8	193 of 1293	85.1%	★★★★☆
2006	75.2	248 of 1276	80.6%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	710 of 903	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	60.8	275 of 918	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	57.3	329 of 924	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.8	510 of 933	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.1	474 of 927	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.1	169 of 896	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	96.3	10 of 949	98.9%	★★★★★
2018	92.7	22 of 927	97.6%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	86.4	32 of 634	95.0%	★★★★★
2021	91.8	18 of 646	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	98.7	5 of 878	99.4%	★★★★★
2018	99.0	7 of 897	99.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.8	173 of 1447	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	90.6	87 of 1451	94.0%	★★★★★
2024	89.9	98 of 1455	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	89.8	96 of 1459	93.4%	★★★★★
2022	83.5	178 of 1458	87.8%	★★★★☆
2021	85.5	158 of 1440	89.0%	★★★★☆
2019	91.5	57 of 1424	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	93.8	29 of 1405	97.9%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.1	211 of 743	71.6%	★★★★☆
2025	65.6	210 of 710	70.4%	★★★★☆
2024	63.5	240 of 669	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.4	182 of 582	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	63.2	214 of 494	56.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	97.1	11 of 961	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	86.9	68 of 951	92.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.5	745 of 1434	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	70.2	309 of 1437	78.5%	★★★★☆
2024	65.4	392 of 1450	73.0%	★★★★☆
2023	59.6	502 of 1437	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	625 of 1366	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.3	463 of 1329	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.3	134 of 1361	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	82.7	125 of 1332	90.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	151 of 1451	89.6%	★★★★☆
2025	92.7	70 of 1450	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.8	64 of 1464	95.6%	★★★★★
2023	83.5	175 of 1461	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	85.9	156 of 1464	89.3%	★★★★☆
2021	92.6	72 of 1444	95.0%	★★★★★
2019	96.4	11 of 1430	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.6	24 of 1413	98.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.4	92 of 815	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	89.2	32 of 821	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	97.0	15 of 801	98.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.1	57 of 1146	95.0%	★★★★★
2025	93.8	12 of 1172	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	94.2	12 of 1166	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	88.3	72 of 1183	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	87.2	85 of 1194	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	90.8	53 of 1172	95.5%	★★★★★
2019	90.5	43 of 1183	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	6 of 1178	99.5%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2025)99th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)95th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2022)95th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)90th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)89th percentile~ school

Female (2026)88th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)72nd percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)48th percentile-41 vs school

African American (2026)21st percentile-68 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science80%+13 vs state

Mathematics80%+17 vs state

Reading75%+19 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Whitaker Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Whitaker Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Whitaker Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whitaker Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 Buena Vista Road	Winston Salem	27104	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 703-6740	490	32	15.1	25.5%	350 (71.4%)	76 (15.5%)	37 (7.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.1%)	87	157^th of 1492 public elementary schools	89.5%		93.1	72^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	95.2%	85	81.7	77.6	81.5	77.5	77.6	71.7	80.4	96.3%	2.4%	$9,221	$473	$8,748
Childrens Center	Public	PK, KG-5	2315 Coliseum Drive	Winston Salem	27106	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 727-2440	83	13	6.1	96.4%	22 (26.5%)	34 (41.0%)	23 (27.7%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)								(n/a)										$38,700	$4,652	$34,048
Anderson Academy	Public, Charter	K-4	1001 Reynolda Road	Winston Salem	27104	Forsyth County	Anderson Academy	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(336) 703-9292	0			—															(n/a)	35.7	15.4		57.1	38.5			100%	0%
Moore Magnet Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	451 Knollwood Street	Winston Salem	27103	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(336) 727-2860	450	34	13.3	—	93 (20.7%)	247 (54.9%)	65 (14.4%)	9 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (7.6%)	25.2	1184^th of 1492 public elementary schools	20.6%		35.4	991^st of 1490 public elementary schools	33.5%	193	62.4	37.3	39.1	63.5	40.0	37.0	42.4	92.6%	1.2%	$10,512	$1,383	$9,128
Sherwood Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1055 Yorkshire Road	Winston Salem	27106	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 774-4646	670	44	15.2	19.0%	511 (76.3%)	42 (6.3%)	44 (6.6%)	27 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.9%)	94.6	49^th of 1492 public elementary schools	96.7%		96.5	32^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	97.9%	17	88.3	86.6	91.7	80.2	83.0	85.7	90.5	100%	0%	$10,301	$903	$9,398
Brunson Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	155 N Hawthorne Road	Winston Salem	27104	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(336) 703-4206	355	29	12.3	—	107 (30.1%)	147 (41.4%)	71 (20.0%)	7 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.2%)	42.6	866^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.0%		52.6	701^st of 1490 public elementary schools	53.0%	165	38.3	52.2	64.4	45.0	52.2	57.5	69.9	97.3%	2.7%	$9,861	$976	$8,885
Cook Literacy Model School	Public	PK, KG-5	920 11th Street NW	Winston Salem	27105	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 703-4201	228	20	11.4	—	6 (2.6%)	168 (73.7%)	47 (20.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.1%)	3.5	1479^th of 1492 public elementary schools	0.9%		25.1	1182^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	20.7%	297	13.0	31.7	30.6	8.7	29.3	27.8	22.2	75%	0%	$15,706	$2,747	$12,959
Speas Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2000 W Polo Road	Winston Salem	27106	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(336) 703-4135	793	52	15.3	—	198 (25.0%)	258 (32.5%)	282 (35.6%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (6.2%)	45.3	818^th of 1492 public elementary schools	45.2%		56.9	612^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.9%	206	63.9	56.2	60.3	50.4	54.7	51.6	63.1	97.5%	0.8%	$9,845	$1,244	$8,601
Kimberley Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 N.Cherry Street	Winston Salem	27105	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 703-6731	332	29	11.3	—	8 (2.4%)	254 (76.5%)	57 (17.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	18.6	1306^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.5%		22.3	1239^th of 1490 public elementary schools	16.8%	67	57.9	30.8	31.7	50.0	38.5	36.6	51.2	90.4%	3.8%	$14,902	$3,465	$11,437
Bolton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1250 Bolton Street	Winston Salem	27103	Forsyth County	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 703-4247	380	32	12.0	—	31 (8.2%)	201 (52.9%)	116 (30.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	26 (6.8%)	26.3	1165^th of 1492 public elementary schools	21.9%		30.6	1080^th of 1490 public elementary schools	27.5%	85	63.8	40.8	45.0	53.4	44.9	27.9	54.1	100%	0%	$12,762	$2,058	$10,705

Frequently Asked Questions about Whitaker Elementary

How many students attend Whitaker Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 490 students attended Whitaker Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Whitaker Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whitaker Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wiley Magnet Middle
High : Early College of Forsyth County
High : Middle College of Forsyth County
High : R J Reynolds High

What is the racial makeup of Whitaker Elementary?

Students at Whitaker Elementary are 71% White, 16% African American, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Whitaker Elementary in?

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

Is Whitaker Elementary a good school?

Whitaker Elementary ranks 157^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Whitaker Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina Elementary School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Winston Salem, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Whitaker Elementary!

Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.