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Riverbend Elementary

Public Grades K-5

62^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 96% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Riverbend Elementary is a small K–5 school of 204 students in Clyde, NC, part of Haywood County Schools, and it stands out as one of North Carolina's top-performing elementary schools while serving a student body in which 98.5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has earned a 5-star rating every year since at least 2015–16 and currently ranks 62nd out of 1,492 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 96th percentile. This level of success has held for years — from top-10 rankings to its current spot near the top 4% — so it's clearly not a one-year fluke.

Academically, Riverbend outperforms the district and the state in every subject and grade tested, averaging about 86% proficiency across seven end-of-grade tests, compared with roughly 67% for the district and 61% for the state. Even its lowest score — 77.4% in 5th-grade reading — is higher than Haywood County's highest average of 75.3% in 5th-grade science, and more than 10 points above the state's best subject average. The contrast with nearby schools is sharp: in 5th-grade math, Meadowbrook Elementary posted 37.5% proficiency while Riverbend reached 90.3%. Across seven nearby Haywood County elementaries — including Clyde Elementary, Junaluska Elementary, Bethel Elementary, and Hazelwood Elementary — average proficiency is roughly 64%, about 22 points behind Riverbend.

Riverbend is especially effective for low-income students, who make up nearly the entire school: its low-income students rank 16th out of 1,434 North Carolina schools — the 99th percentile — and every reported student subgroup earns 4 or 5 stars. Attendance also stands out. The school's chronic absenteeism rate was just 12.7% in 2024–25, compared with 19.9% across the district and 24.2% across the state; among nearby schools, only North Canton Elementary matches that figure. Riverbend's statewide rank has softened from a top-12 position to roughly 60th in the last two years, but proficiency remains extraordinarily high — making it a standout option in the Clyde area and a remarkable example of a high-poverty school beating the odds.

204

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

87.5%

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

Exemptions: 12.5% (any vaccine)

71 Learning Lane
Clyde, NC 28721

(828) 627-6565

District: Haywood County Schools

Students who attend Riverbend Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Waynesville Middle
High:	Tuscola High

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.6%

Hispanic:

4.9%

American Indian:

0.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2016 → 96th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (86% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 4% of North Carolina elementary schools

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school86%

District avg67%

North Carolina avg61%

62^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 4%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From top 1% (2016) to top 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

64^th of 246Haywood 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	93.9	62 of 1492	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	94.5	57 of 1490	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	97.6	12 of 1505	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	8 of 1502	99.5%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	5 of 1514	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	91.9	95 of 1489	93.6%	★★★★★
2019	96.0	19 of 1473	98.7%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	6 of 1434	99.6%	★★★★★
2017	91.0	78 of 1429	94.5%	★★★★★
2016	96.2	11 of 1425	99.2%	★★★★★
2015	93.9	35 of 1440	97.6%	★★★★★
2014	96.0	24 of 1390	98.3%	★★★★★
2013	86.8	140 of 1403	90.0%	★★★★★
2012	90.9	23 of 1388	98.3%	★★★★★
2011	91.3	12 of 1381	99.1%	★★★★★
2010	92.1	5 of 1363	99.6%	★★★★★
2009	86.9	92 of 1354	93.2%	★★★★★
2008	91.0	56 of 1324	95.8%	★★★★★
2007	80.0	174 of 1293	86.5%	★★★★☆
2006	73.0	290 of 1276	77.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.9	129 of 1447	91.1%	★★★★★
2025	92.6	61 of 1451	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	96.6	15 of 1455	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	3 of 1459	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	96.5	12 of 1458	99.2%	★★★★★
2021	88.0	123 of 1440	91.5%	★★★★★
2019	95.8	13 of 1424	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	1 of 1405	99.9%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	96.6	16 of 1434	98.9%	★★★★★
2025	90.4	55 of 1437	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	98.9	4 of 1450	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.5	2 of 1437	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	98.3	6 of 1366	99.6%	★★★★★
2021	92.0	44 of 1329	96.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.8	1 of 1361	99.9%	★★★★★
2018	98.3	2 of 1332	99.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	95.0	27 of 1451	98.1%	★★★★★
2025	92.8	67 of 1450	95.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	10 of 1464	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	96.5	14 of 1461	99.0%	★★★★★
2022	98.0	4 of 1464	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	93.3	61 of 1444	95.8%	★★★★★
2019	95.1	22 of 1430	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	95.7	12 of 1413	99.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.3	159 of 1146	86.1%	★★★★☆
2025	84.5	131 of 1172	88.8%	★★★★☆
2024	92.1	31 of 1166	97.3%	★★★★★
2023	94.1	10 of 1183	99.2%	★★★★★
2022	94.1	15 of 1194	98.7%	★★★★★
2021	79.1	207 of 1172	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	89.4	54 of 1183	95.4%	★★★★★
2018	93.0	12 of 1178	99.0%	★★★★★

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)99th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)98th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2025)96th percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)86th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics90%+26 vs state

Science87%+19 vs state

Reading82%+26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Riverbend 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 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
Riverbend Elementary	Public	K-5	71 Learning Lane	Clyde	28721	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 627-6565	204	14	15.0	—	193 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	93.9	62^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	95.8%		94.5	57^th of 1490 public elementary schools	96.2%	5	86.5	92.9	90.3	89.2	78.6	77.4	87.1	87.5%	12.5%	$10,871	$924	$9,947
Clyde Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4182 Old Clyde Road	Clyde	28721	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 627-2206	523	36	14.7	—	436 (83.4%)	5 (1.0%)	54 (10.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.6%)	52.9	681^st of 1492 public elementary schools	54.4%		40.8	903^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	39.4%	222	68.6	66.7	50.8	58.6	64.3	49.2	60.0	93.8%	6.3%	$11,365	$1,942	$9,424
Junaluska Elementary	Public	K-5	2238 Asheville Road	Waynesville	28786	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 456-2407	428	27	15.6	—	354 (82.7%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.3%)	5 (1.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.1%)	76.9	279^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.3%		85	174^th of 1490 public elementary schools	88.3%	105	66.3	78.9	73.3	62.0	72.2	73.3	81.3	85.5%	1.4%	$9,950	$1,085	$8,865
Jonathan Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	410 Hall Drive	Waynesville	28785	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 926-3207	336	24	13.8	—	291 (86.6%)	2 (0.6%)	30 (8.9%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	59.4	591^st of 1492 public elementary schools	60.4%		57.7	601^st of 1490 public elementary schools	59.7%	10	52.3	72.4	70.0	50.8	60.3	63.3	76.7	91.1%	4.4%	$10,398	$995	$9,403
North Canton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	60 Thompson St	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3444	332	20	16.8	—	283 (85.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.5%)	71.6	386^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.1%		72.1	361^st of 1490 public elementary schools	75.8%	25	81.1	74.0	63.0	69.8	66.0	60.9	67.4	100%	0%	$11,227	$1,320	$9,907
Bethel Elementary	Public	K-5	4700 Old River Road	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3448	537	31	17.5	—	480 (89.4%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.8%)	68.2	454^th of 1492 public elementary schools	69.6%		78	279^th of 1490 public elementary schools	81.3%	175	73.4	59.4	81.6	57.4	57.3	62.1	87.4	95.9%	2.7%	$9,186	$1,048	$8,138
Meadowbrook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	85 Morningstar Rd	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3445	198	12	16.7	98.0%	170 (85.9%)	6 (3.0%)	17 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	38.4	933^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	37.5%		35.2	996^th of 1490 public elementary schools	33.2%	63	61.8	50.0	37.5	61.8	53.6	31.3	56.3	83.9%	16.1%	$11,254	$1,792	$9,462
Hazelwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1111 Plott Creek Road	Waynesville	28786	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 456-2406	490	29	16.6	—	395 (80.6%)	3 (0.6%)	70 (14.3%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	56.4	634^th of 1492 public elementary schools	57.5%		62.7	514^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.5%	120	72.8	70.2	51.3	58.0	54.8	53.8	71.8	95.7%	0%	$9,672	$1,194	$8,479
Pisgah Elementary	Public	K-4	1495 Pisgah Hwy	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 670-5023	162	14	11.5	—	121 (74.7%)	1 (0.6%)	32 (19.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	65	506^th of 1492 public elementary schools	66.1%		51.5	718^th of 1490 public elementary schools	51.8%	212	75.9	73.8		58.6	54.8			78.8%	15.2%	$13,649	$1,435	$12,214
Candler Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	121 Candler School Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 670-5018	381	28	13.8	—	260 (68.2%)	20 (5.2%)	90 (23.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	52	691^st of 1492 public elementary schools	53.7%		62.7	519^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.2%	172	64.6	63.4		52.4	57.7			92%	5.7%	$11,201	$1,431	$9,770

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverbend Elementary

What district is Riverbend Elementary in?

Haywood County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Riverbend Elementary?

Students at Riverbend Elementary are 95% White, 5% Hispanic.

Is Riverbend Elementary a good school?

Yes! Riverbend Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 62^nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Riverbend Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 204 students attended Riverbend Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Riverbend Elementary attend?

Students who attend Riverbend Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Waynesville Middle
High : Tuscola High

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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.