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Tar River Elementary

Q: Is Tar River Elementary a good school?

Tar River Elementary ranks 865 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

865^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 42% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Tar River Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Franklinton, NC, serving 370 students as part of Granville County Schools. The school currently places in the 42nd percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, a middle-of-the-pack ranking that has drifted downward over the past several years from a high of the 75th percentile in 2021-22. Within its own district, however, Tar River Elementary is a relative bright spot — it ranks as the second-highest elementary school in Granville County, behind only Wilton Elementary. Like many surrounding schools, Tar River serves a very high-poverty population, with nearly all students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

One of Tar River's clearest strengths is attendance. Chronic absenteeism is 23.3% — essentially matching the state average and far better than the Granville County district average of 40.9%. The school also shines in the upper elementary grades: its 5th graders scored at or above state averages in math, reading, and science in the most recent school year, with science a particular highlight at 68.8% proficiency. Students receiving special education services also perform well relative to statewide peers, and a cohort that struggled deeply in 3rd grade reached state-average proficiency by 5th grade — a sign that the school can help students recover academic ground.

The biggest challenge is early literacy. Third-grade reading proficiency has consistently trailed the state average. Gifted and talented students also rank very low compared to their peers statewide, suggesting that high-achieving students may not be pushed enough. Nearby comparable high-poverty schools — Youngsville Elementary and Long Mill Elementary, both in Franklin County Schools — rank above Tar River, showing that the school's results are not simply a product of poverty. For parents, Tar River offers strong attendance, solid upper-grade academics, and meaningful student growth, but early reading support and enrichment for advanced learners deserve careful attention.

370

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

2642 Philo White Rd
Franklinton, NC 27525

(919) 528-2767

District: Granville County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.2%

Hispanic:

22.2%

African American:

17.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Tar River Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 81st percentile in 2016 → 42nd in 2026

Worth a look

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

!Ranking has slipped — down 39 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg51%

North Carolina avg61%

865^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 39 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to bottom 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

182^nd of 246Granville 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	42.7	865 of 1492	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.7	885 of 1490	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.4	756 of 1505	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.3	541 of 1502	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.0	371 of 1514	75.5%	★★★★☆
2021	37.9	900 of 1489	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.1	504 of 1473	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	409 of 1434	71.5%	★★★★☆
2017	52.6	706 of 1429	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	77.4	274 of 1425	80.8%	★★★★☆
2015	71.4	387 of 1440	73.1%	★★★★☆
2014	72.7	349 of 1390	74.9%	★★★★☆
2013	72.2	327 of 1403	76.7%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	27.8	729 of 918	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	74.2	125 of 896	86.0%	★★★★☆
2019	67.9	222 of 949	76.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	50.1	248 of 634	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.7	129 of 646	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	51.3	349 of 878	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.5	516 of 897	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.2	829 of 1447	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.7	1033 of 1451	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.4	829 of 1455	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.3	651 of 1459	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	77.8	264 of 1458	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	38.4	854 of 1440	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.9	596 of 1424	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.5	513 of 1405	63.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	18.7	684 of 710	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	41.1	573 of 669	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	58.3	316 of 582	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.1	212 of 500	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.1	408 of 494	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	65.3	118 of 612	80.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.5	566 of 981	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.9	648 of 961	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.6	396 of 951	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.8	544 of 915	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.3	504 of 893	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	12.9	823 of 843	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	703 of 1434	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.3	709 of 1437	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.6	789 of 1450	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.1	548 of 1437	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	80.1	143 of 1366	89.5%	★★★★☆
2021	42.7	730 of 1329	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.3	388 of 1361	71.5%	★★★★☆
2018	59.3	509 of 1332	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.9	858 of 1451	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.0	705 of 1450	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	669 of 1464	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.6	434 of 1461	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	62.5	524 of 1464	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	869 of 1444	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.3	438 of 1430	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.9	319 of 1413	77.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.5	292 of 815	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.0	353 of 821	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	207 of 801	74.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	785 of 1146	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.1	857 of 1172	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.8	808 of 1166	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.4	537 of 1183	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.8	454 of 1194	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.7	951 of 1172	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.6	619 of 1183	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.1	579 of 1178	50.8%	★★★☆☆

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)64th percentile+22 vs school

Disabled (2022)61st percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)51st percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)42nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)41st percentile~ school

White (2026)32nd percentile-11 vs school

African American (2025)21st percentile-20 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)4th percentile-37 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science69%~ state avg

Mathematics57%-6 vs state

Reading51%-5 vs state

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Schools Near Tar River Elementary

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Ranking:

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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
Tar River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2642 Philo White Rd	Franklinton	27525	Franklin County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 528-2767	370	24	15.6	—	193 (52.2%)	64 (17.3%)	82 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.4%)	42.7	865^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.0%		41.7	885^th of 1490 public elementary schools	40.6%	20	60.0	48.4	68.8	41.8	56.5	56.3	68.8	$9,962	$879	$9,083
Wilton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2555 Hwy 96	Franklinton	27525	Franklin County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 528-0033	350	20	17.7	—	174 (49.7%)	67 (19.1%)	76 (21.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.9%)	55.6	647^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.6%		52.7	696^th of 1490 public elementary schools	53.3%	49	58.3	63.0	69.5	54.2	59.3	62.7	62.7	$10,049	$680	$9,369
Mount Energy Elementary	Public	K-5	2652 Hwy 56	Creedmoor	27522	Granville County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 529-0586	515	32	16.0	—	202 (39.2%)	146 (28.3%)	124 (24.1%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.8%)	36.8	964^th of 1492 public elementary schools	35.4%		31.8	1063^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	28.7%	99	63.0	60.5	51.2	52.2	55.3	43.0	46.5	$10,793	$834	$9,959
Franklinton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	431 S Hillsborough St.	Franklinton	27525	Franklin County	Franklin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 494-2479	470	34	13.6	—	111 (23.6%)	213 (45.3%)	112 (23.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.8%)	29.3	1106^th of 1492 public elementary schools	25.9%		29.3	1100^th of 1490 public elementary schools	26.2%	6	57.7	49.4	55.1	43.7	50.6	34.8	57.3	$10,634	$1,099	$9,535
Long Mill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1753 Long Mill Rd	Youngsville	27596	Franklin County	Franklin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 554-0667	433	32	13.6	—	155 (35.8%)	143 (33.0%)	93 (21.5%)	13 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.7%)	53.9	668^th of 1492 public elementary schools	55.2%		44.4	842^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	43.5%	174	78.3	67.1	57.1	65.0	61.0	41.4	58.6	$11,120	$1,287	$9,833
Youngsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	125 Highway 1A South	Youngsville	27596	Franklin County	Franklin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 556-5250	425	31	13.5	—	169 (39.8%)	119 (28.0%)	85 (20.0%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.6%)	69.6	425^th of 1492 public elementary schools	71.5%		79.6	251^st of 1490 public elementary schools	83.2%	174	68.8	78.3	64.6	61.0	78.3	52.3	73.8	$9,628	$887	$8,741
Butner-Stem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	501 East D St	Butner	27509	Granville County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 575-6947	476	31	15.3	—	93 (19.5%)	108 (22.7%)	248 (52.1%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.8%)	28.4	1127^th of 1492 public elementary schools	24.5%		46	816^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.2%	311	23.3	65.7	58.8	26.0	51.4	40.0	55.3	$9,817	$738	$9,079
Richland Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	840 Wallridge Drive	Wake Forest	27587	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 554-6333	558	36	15.5	42.3%	257 (46.1%)	127 (22.8%)	94 (16.8%)	40 (7.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (6.8%)	82	218^th of 1492 public elementary schools	85.4%		80.9	235^th of 1490 public elementary schools	84.2%	17	75.5	83.8	70.3	71.7	79.3	68.1	75.8	$10,554	$524	$10,030
C. G. Credle Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	223 College St	Oxford	27565	Granville County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 693-9191	327	18	17.7	—	54 (16.5%)	198 (60.6%)	51 (15.6%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.5%)	30.5	1081^st of 1492 public elementary schools	27.5%		27.4	1121^st of 1490 public elementary schools	24.8%	40	70.2	58.7	50.0	51.1	43.5	28.8	44.2	$10,703	$1,137	$9,566
Zeb Vance Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4800 Raleigh Road	Kittrell	27544	Vance County	Vance County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 438-8492	298	17	17.7	—	54 (18.1%)	184 (61.7%)	52 (17.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	13.7	1379^th of 1492 public elementary schools	7.6%		8.4	1439^th of 1490 public elementary schools	3.4%	60	36.1	39.2	33.3	31.1	49.0	39.4	48.5	$13,318	$1,564	$11,754

Frequently Asked Questions about Tar River Elementary

What schools do graduates of Tar River Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tar River Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : South Granville High

Is Tar River Elementary a good school?

Tar River Elementary ranks 865^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Tar River Elementary in?

Granville County Schools

How many students attend Tar River Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 370 students attended Tar River Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Tar River Elementary?

Students at Tar River Elementary are 52% White, 22% Hispanic, 17% African American, 8% Two or more races.

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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.