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Southern Elementary

Q: Is Southern Elementary a good school?

Southern Elementary ranks 735 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

735^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Southern Elementary is a small public school in the Guilford County Schools district in the southern part of Greensboro, NC, serving roughly 215 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, nearly all of whom (98.6%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. For a school with that level of economic need, it performs well: Southern Elementary holds a 3-star state rating and ranks at the 51st percentile among North Carolina elementary schools, above the Guilford County Schools district's 39th-percentile ranking. It also clearly outranks several nearby schools serving similar student populations, including Allen Jay Elementary (15th percentile), Sedgefield Elementary (12th), Cyrus P Frazier Elementary (10th), and Union Hill Elementary (10th), placing it among the stronger elementary schools in its immediate area.

Southern Elementary's strongest subjects are math and science. In the latest testing year, 70% of its 3rd graders were proficient in math, beating the district average (62.4%) and the state (66.4%), and 5th grade science has now exceeded the state average for several years running. Reading is more uneven: 4th graders posted a strong 58.8% proficiency rate, but 3rd and 5th grade reading trailed district and state averages. One very encouraging signal is subgroup performance: English learners and low-income students at Southern rank in the 83rd and 72nd percentiles statewide, respectively — well above these groups' typical results, suggesting classroom supports are reaching some of the school's most vulnerable learners.

Attendance is another plus: Southern Elementary's chronic absenteeism rate of 24.6% is essentially tied with the state average (24.2%) and far better than nearby Union Hill Elementary (38.9%), Sedgefield Elementary (37.5%), and Cyrus P Frazier Elementary (33.3%). The school's small size — just over 200 students and a 13.2-to-1 student-teacher ratio — also makes it easier for staff to know families and target help. Parents should keep in mind, though, that tiny grade-level cohorts mean year-to-year scores can swing sharply with a single class. The steady multi-year pattern — mid-range overall performance, strong math and science, and reading as the main area for growth — gives the most reliable picture of what Southern Elementary offers.

215

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

5720 Drake Road
Greensboro, NC 27406-8868

(336) 674-4325

District: Guilford County Schools

Students who attend Southern Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Southern Guilford Middle
High:	Southern Guilford High

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.3%

Hispanic:

37.2%

Two or more races:

7.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Southern Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg61%

735^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

150^th of 246Guilford 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	49.9	735 of 1492	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.6	602 of 1490	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.1	796 of 1505	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	59.1	598 of 1502	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.1	548 of 1514	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	79.5	250 of 1489	83.2%	★★★★☆
2019	66.9	463 of 1473	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.0	561 of 1434	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.3	625 of 1429	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	61.1	543 of 1425	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.2	657 of 1440	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	69.8	395 of 1390	71.6%	★★★★☆
2013	70.7	344 of 1403	75.5%	★★★★☆
2012	73.9	319 of 1388	77.0%	★★★★☆
2011	83.7	142 of 1381	89.7%	★★★★☆
2010	81.9	164 of 1363	88.0%	★★★★☆
2009	55.7	688 of 1354	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	60.2	543 of 1324	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	53.6	677 of 1293	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.4	833 of 1276	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	90.8	36 of 897	96.0%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.1	88 of 519	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	75.3	69 of 514	86.6%	★★★★☆
2021	78.1	32 of 385	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	49.8	207 of 497	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.9	876 of 1447	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.5	1000 of 1451	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.7	671 of 1455	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.1	560 of 1459	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.9	551 of 1458	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	415 of 1440	71.2%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	445 of 1424	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.2	797 of 1405	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.0	470 of 981	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.4	174 of 961	81.9%	★★★★☆
2024	57.5	357 of 951	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	272 of 915	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	227 of 893	74.6%	★★★★☆
2021	80.4	96 of 843	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	53.3	386 of 865	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.6	441 of 851	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.2	402 of 1434	72.0%	★★★★☆
2025	73.1	264 of 1437	81.6%	★★★★☆
2024	58.4	545 of 1450	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.7	399 of 1437	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	79.0	154 of 1366	88.7%	★★★★☆
2021	98.6	4 of 1329	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	75.5	216 of 1361	84.1%	★★★★☆
2018	66.5	371 of 1332	72.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.5	629 of 1451	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.7	347 of 1450	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	42.2	862 of 1464	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.1	615 of 1461	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.7	520 of 1464	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	86.0	157 of 1444	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	63.5	480 of 1430	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.1	313 of 1413	77.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.7	764 of 1146	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.0	777 of 1172	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	796 of 1166	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.4	772 of 1183	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.9	508 of 1194	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.9	310 of 1172	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	63.2	422 of 1183	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.1	559 of 1178	52.5%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2018)96th percentile+35 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)83rd percentile+32 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile+21 vs school

Male (2026)57th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)39th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)33rd percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science68%~ state avg

Mathematics64%~ state avg

Reading51%-5 vs state

5.0

3 ratings

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Southern 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 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
Southern Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5720 Drake Road	Greensboro	27406	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 674-4325	215	16	13.2	—	93 (43.3%)	15 (7.0%)	80 (37.2%)	9 (4.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.9%)	49.9	735^th of 1492 public elementary schools	50.7%		57.6	602^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	59.6%	133	70.0	58.8	63.2				50.0	58.8	44.7				68.4		$10,569	$745	$9,824
Sumner Elementary	Public	K-5	1915 Harris Drive	Greensboro	27406	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 316-5888	549	29	19.0	—	56 (10.2%)	285 (51.9%)	171 (31.1%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.4%)	34.8	1011^th of 1492 public elementary schools	32.2%		28.4	1111^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.4%	100	51.8	56.8	49.4				45.8	54.5	49.4				58.2		$9,927	$1,334	$8,594
Next Generation Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3740 South Holden Road	Greensboro	27406	Guilford County	Next Generation Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(336) 271-9030	487	47	10.4	95.9%	11 (2.3%)	407 (83.6%)	33 (6.8%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.6%)	25.3	1181^st of 1492 public elementary schools	20.8%		20.9	1264^th of 1490 public elementary schools	15.2%	83	60.7	41.7	53.1	39.7	51.5	48.6	60.7	35.0	34.7	34.9	42.4	42.9	53.1	62.9
Millis Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4310 Millis Road	Jamestown	27282	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 819-2125	444	29	15.4	—	152 (34.2%)	131 (29.5%)	76 (17.1%)	49 (11.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (7.4%)	61.9	548^th of 1492 public elementary schools	63.3%		57.9	597^th of 1490 public elementary schools	59.9%	49	67.2	71.1	63.1				52.2	57.9	60.0				80.0		$9,040	$669	$8,371
Cyrus P Frazier Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4215 Galway Drive	Greensboro	27406	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 294-7340	327	22	14.6	—	18 (5.5%)	150 (45.9%)	111 (33.9%)	39 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	16	1350^th of 1492 public elementary schools	9.5%		23	1218^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.3%	132	52.3	47.8	44.0				34.1	34.8	38.0				44.0		$11,823	$2,438	$9,385
Union Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	3523 Triangle Lake Road	High Point	27260	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 819-2130	495	33	15.2	—	34 (6.9%)	270 (54.5%)	111 (22.4%)	56 (11.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.4%)	16.5	1342^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	10.1%		32.7	1041^st of 1490 public elementary schools	30.1%	301	50.0	43.7	42.5				29.6	33.7	38.4				58.3		$10,545	$1,525	$9,020
John R Lawrence Elementary School	Public	K-5	6068 Suits Rd	Archdale	27263	Guilford County	Randolph County School System	No	No	No	No	(336) 861-8100	394	26	15.1	—	313 (79.4%)	12 (3.0%)	29 (7.4%)	23 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	68.2	453^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	69.6%		70.4	384^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.2%	69	71.2	68.9	67.9				58.9	60.7	62.3				83.0		$9,527	$549	$8,978
Pleasant Garden Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4833 Pleasant Garden Road	Pleasant Garden	27313	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 674-4321	453	30	15.3	—	314 (69.3%)	43 (9.5%)	63 (13.9%)	5 (1.1%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	61.8	552^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	63.0%		74.4	327^th of 1490 public elementary schools	78.1%	225	70.8	72.0	72.3				55.4	42.7	66.2				75.4		$10,778	$942	$9,836
Allen Jay Elementary	Public	1-5	1311 East Springfield Road	High Point	27263	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 434-8490	467	39	12.0	—	45 (9.6%)	139 (29.8%)	128 (27.4%)	133 (28.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.7%)	20.4	1273^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	14.7%		34.2	1016^th of 1490 public elementary schools	31.8%	257	52.7	52.1	46.0				27.3	45.2	36.0				48.0		$11,125	$1,674	$9,451
Jamestown Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	108 Potter Drive	Jamestown	27282	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 819-2110	453	29	15.7	—	104 (23.0%)	204 (45.0%)	69 (15.2%)	46 (10.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	47	783^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	47.5%		50.7	736^th of 1490 public elementary schools	50.6%	47	59.7	56.3	75.8				40.3	46.5	54.5				73.8		$10,322	$1,090	$9,232

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Elementary

What district is Southern Elementary in?

Guilford County Schools

What schools do graduates of Southern Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southern Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southern Guilford Middle
High : Southern Guilford High

What is the racial makeup of Southern Elementary?

Students at Southern Elementary are 43% White, 37% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 7% African American, 4% Asian.

How many students attend Southern Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 215 students attended Southern Elementary.

Is Southern Elementary a good school?

Southern Elementary ranks 735^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Southern Elementary!

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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.