Dunn Elementary

Dunn Elementary is a PK-5 school serving 813 students in Dunn, NC, and is part of Harnett County Schools, where 99.5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school ranks 1,210th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools — the 19th percentile, earning a 1-star rating — which is an improvement from the 9th percentile in 2022-23. Academically, Dunn trails both district and state averages in most tested subjects. Reading is the weakest area: 38% of 3rd graders and 35% of 5th graders read on grade level, compared with state averages of 56% and 55%, respectively.

The most striking differentiator is chronic absenteeism. At 32.0%, Dunn's rate is the highest among all nearby elementary schools studied, topping the district rate of 26.9% and state rate of 24.2%. That means roughly one in three students misses enough school to disrupt learning. The rate has improved substantially from its pandemic-era peak of 48.6% in 2021-22 but ticked back upward in 2024-25. Notably, neighboring high-poverty schools report far lower rates — Benson Elementary sits at 16.7%, Midway Elementary at 16.8%, and Plain View Elementary at 24.1% — indicating that Dunn's attendance challenges are not simply a product of economic disadvantage.

Despite the struggles, there are bright spots worth recognizing. Dunn Elementary's 4th-grade math proficiency reached 63.6%, outperforming the district average by 10.9 points and finishing ahead of the state average and every nearby Harnett County elementary school in the data. English Learner students rank at the 66th percentile statewide, up sharply from the 36th percentile a year earlier, and Gifted students sit at the 77th percentile. The school also recently earned its strongest overall ranking in years. High-poverty neighbors like Midway Elementary and Benson Elementary post results in the top half of the state, demonstrating that Dunn's outcomes are not predetermined by economic factors. Continued emphasis on attendance, early literacy, and replicating the practices behind its successful 4th-grade math and English Learner instruction gives Dunn a clear path toward improvement.