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Northwest Harnett Elementary

Q: Is Northwest Harnett Elementary a good school?

Northwest Harnett Elementary ranks 580 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

580^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Northwest Harnett Elementary is a public pre-K through 5th grade school in Fuquay Varina, NC, serving about 645 students as part of Harnett County Schools. Given its location near the Wake County line, a natural way to judge the school is by comparing it to the nearby Wake County elementary campuses that many families also consider.

In short, NHE looks excellent within its own district but loses momentum relative to cross-county peers. Its 3rd grade reading proficiency reached 73.1% in 2025-26, far above the Harnett district average, and math and reading in 3rd grade generally outpace several Wake County Schools neighbors. But by 5th grade, NHE's math (56.3%), reading (52.7%), and science (64.3%) percentages trail schools like South Lakes Elementary and Ballentine Elementary by about 10 to 20 points. Attendance is a genuine bright spot: chronic absenteeism fell from 40.4% in 2021-22 to 15.5% in 2024-25, better than the Harnett district and competitive with higher-rated Wake schools. The school also serves a more economically disadvantaged student body while spending less per pupil and keeping larger class sizes, making its early-grade results all the more impressive.

Still, the statewide ranking dropped from the 80th to the 61st percentile in a single year, and the decline covered several student groups, including low-income, special education, and female students. The most concerning signal is for gifted and talented students: NHE's gifted subgroup ranked at the 3rd percentile in 2025-26, a steep fall that suggests high-achieving learners may not be getting the rigor they need. A nearby same-district school, LaFayette Year-Round, offers a reminder of what's possible in the area, outpacing NHE in 4th grade reading (83.3% vs. 59.4%) and several other upper-grade subjects. Strong attendance and 3rd grade foundations give NHE something to build on, but reversing the upper-grade slide and re-challenging its advanced students appear to be the school's next big hurdles.

645

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

42.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

736 Rollins Road
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

(919) 552-4547

District: Harnett County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.7%

Hispanic:

18.8%

African American:

10.4%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Northwest Harnett Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 77th percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg54%

North Carolina avg61%

580^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 23% (2016) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

173^rd of 246Harnett 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	59.9	580 of 1492	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.7	301 of 1490	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	66.2	470 of 1505	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.1	422 of 1502	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	61.4	559 of 1514	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.2	480 of 1489	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.1	230 of 1473	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	75.3	307 of 1434	78.6%	★★★★☆
2017	79.6	232 of 1429	83.8%	★★★★☆
2016	74.0	326 of 1425	77.1%	★★★★☆
2015	71.1	394 of 1440	72.6%	★★★★☆
2014	75.1	310 of 1390	77.7%	★★★★☆
2013	75.8	289 of 1403	79.4%	★★★★☆
2012	59.0	621 of 1388	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.0	596 of 1381	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.8	724 of 1363	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	69.1	419 of 1354	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	74.7	277 of 1324	79.1%	★★★★☆
2007	75.8	242 of 1293	81.3%	★★★★☆
2006	70.0	338 of 1276	73.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.1	277 of 903	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.3	313 of 918	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.7	292 of 924	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.9	276 of 933	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	39.8	573 of 927	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	68.5	112 of 634	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	58.1	188 of 646	70.9%	★★★★☆
2019	68.2	169 of 878	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	18.2	847 of 897	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	33.6	372 of 533	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.2	329 of 485	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.8	655 of 1447	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	74.7	289 of 1451	80.1%	★★★★☆
2024	67.1	410 of 1455	71.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.9	506 of 1459	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.3	620 of 1458	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	398 of 1440	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	80.7	200 of 1424	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	79.1	239 of 1405	83.0%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	720 of 743	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	51.3	480 of 710	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.8	452 of 669	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	550 of 582	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	52.9	334 of 500	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.0	327 of 494	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.1	401 of 612	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.9	548 of 981	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.0	241 of 961	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	45.6	513 of 951	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.0	401 of 915	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.5	694 of 893	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.2	484 of 843	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	72.8	170 of 865	80.3%	★★★★☆
2018	64.1	250 of 851	70.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	667 of 1434	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.5	210 of 1437	85.4%	★★★★☆
2024	56.0	582 of 1450	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.1	618 of 1437	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.5	263 of 1366	80.7%	★★★★☆
2021	58.3	447 of 1329	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.8	338 of 1361	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	309 of 1332	76.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	496 of 1451	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	75.7	293 of 1450	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	62.6	518 of 1464	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.5	337 of 1461	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	468 of 1464	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.1	548 of 1444	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.4	269 of 1430	81.2%	★★★★☆
2018	68.9	409 of 1413	71.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	380 of 815	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	75.8	97 of 821	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	48.7	336 of 801	58.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.8	637 of 1146	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	66.8	362 of 1172	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.7	429 of 1166	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.8	433 of 1183	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.5	550 of 1194	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.6	522 of 1172	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.9	348 of 1183	70.6%	★★★★☆
2018	67.8	372 of 1178	68.4%	★★★☆☆

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 (2022)82nd percentile+19 vs school

African American (2026)69th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)55th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)53rd percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)44th percentile-17 vs school

Hispanic (2026)44th percentile-17 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)30th percentile-39 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)3rd percentile-58 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics66%+3 vs state

Science64%-3 vs state

Reading61%+5 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, January 3, 2020

I have 4 children and they all went to LaFayette. It is an excellent school with a staff
that truly care about their kids and how they succeed. My kids loved their teachers and enjoyed everything about the school. They were very sad to have to leave and go to a much bigger middle school that did not provide the smaller classroom size and/or the options available to them from the staff. Close Quote

Schools Near Northwest Harnett 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwest Harnett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	736 Rollins Road	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Harnett County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 552-4547	645	36	17.8	42.5%	398 (61.7%)	67 (10.4%)	121 (18.8%)	15 (2.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (6.4%)	59.9	580^th of 1492 public elementary schools	61.1%		76.7	301^st of 1490 public elementary schools	79.8%	279	79.8	64.1	56.3		73.1	59.4	52.7		64.3	$8,479	$866	$7,613
Bowling Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1155 Bowling Road	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(919) 431-7400	0																		(n/a)	62.8	50.6	63.5		56.9	43.2	52.7		75.7
Achievement Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	25 Buttonwood Ct.	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Achievement Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 552-5446	211	14	15.2		114 (54.0%)	43 (20.4%)	25 (11.8%)	5 (2.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.9%)	27.9	1139^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.7%		12.1	1390^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.7%	251	78.6	40.7	50.0	27.8	46.4	40.7	44.0	33.3	52.0
Lincoln Heights Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	307 Bridge St	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 557-2587	667	45	14.7	35.8%	393 (58.9%)	103 (15.4%)	93 (13.9%)	51 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	25 (3.7%)	74.1	336^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.5%		73.7	336^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.4%		70.9	72.1	68.3		67.4	71.2	60.4		80.2	$13,231	$2,042	$11,189
Buckhorn Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5651 Honeycutt Rd	Holly Springs	27540	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8970	905	63	14.3	25.7%	443 (49.0%)	109 (12.0%)	125 (13.8%)	171 (18.9%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (5.9%)	90.9	99^th of 1492 public elementary schools	93.4%		85.9	159^th of 1490 public elementary schools	89.3%	60	85.1	87.2	88.6		68.6	78.7	74.0		92.6	$9,241	$405	$8,837
Rex Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6125 Rex Road	Holly Springs	27540	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(919) 431-7400	0																		(n/a)	84.3	93.8	91.1		75.7	87.7	87.5		91.1
LaFayette Year-Round	Public	K-6	108 Lafayette School Rd	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Harnett County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(919) 552-4353	179	10	17.3	32.4%	122 (68.2%)	26 (14.5%)	21 (11.7%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.5%)	75.4	314^th of 1492 public elementary schools	79.0%		56.7	618^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.5%	304	69.0	75.0	68.2	65.2	72.4	83.3	63.6	65.2	68.2
Herbert Akins Rd Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2255 Herbert Akins Rd	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 567-4100	988	69	14.3	32.0%	598 (60.5%)	144 (14.6%)	117 (11.8%)	63 (6.4%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (6.0%)	80.7	235^th of 1492 public elementary schools	84.2%		77.8	282^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	81.1%	47	82.0	72.4	76.3		73.4	70.1	69.1		74.1	$9,017	$332	$8,685
Holly Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1451 Avent Ferry Road	Holly Springs	27540	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 577-1700	889	62	14.3	13.3%	582 (65.5%)	61 (6.9%)	73 (8.2%)	135 (15.2%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (3.9%)	95	39^th of 1492 public elementary schools	97.4%		94.6	53^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	96.4%	14	86.1	87.7	90.6		84.4	86.3	85.5		89.9	$9,174	$517	$8,657
Ballentine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1651 North McLaurin Lane	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 557-1120	742	53	14.0	28.6%	463 (62.4%)	52 (7.0%)	155 (20.9%)	44 (5.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.6%)	85.2	178^th of 1492 public elementary schools	88.1%		86.8	148^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.1%	30	78.0	76.1	80.2		75.4	77.1	68.7		82.4	$10,151	$476	$9,675

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Harnett Elementary

What district is Northwest Harnett Elementary in?

Harnett County Schools

Is Northwest Harnett Elementary a good school?

Northwest Harnett Elementary ranks 580^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northwest Harnett Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 645 students attended Northwest Harnett Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest Harnett Elementary?

Students at Northwest Harnett Elementary are 62% White, 19% Hispanic, 10% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Rate Northwest Harnett Elementary!

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Schools in Fuquay Varina, NC

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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.