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Hazelwood Elementary

Q: Is Hazelwood Elementary a good school?

Hazelwood Elementary ranks 634 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

634^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hazelwood Elementary is a pre-K through 5th grade school in Waynesville, NC, serving about 490 students in Haywood County Schools, a 4-star district ranking in the 74th percentile statewide. The school's own ranking is more middling — 634th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, or the 58th percentile with a 3-star rating. Its percentile has drifted down in recent years: 72nd in 2021-22, 71st in 2023-24, 66th in 2024-25, and now 58th. The school has shown meaningful long-term improvement over its 42nd-percentile standing in 2018-19. Hazelwood also serves a high-poverty student body, with 98.6% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, early-grade math is the school's clearest strength: 3rd grade (72.8% proficient) and 4th grade (70.2%) beat the state average, and 5th grade science is solid at 71.8% proficient. Reading, though, lags the district average in every tested grade, and 5th grade math is a trouble spot — only 51.3% of students are proficient, about 15 points below the district. Nearby comparisons are mixed. Riverbend Elementary, 8 miles away with similarly high poverty, ranks in the 96th percentile statewide, while Junaluska Elementary (3.6 miles) ranks in the 81st. Hazelwood sits in the same band as Jonathan Valley Elementary (60th percentile), ahead of Clyde Elementary (54th) and Meadowbrook Elementary (37th), and above neighboring Jackson County Public Schools, which generally rank in the 17th–35th percentiles.

Hazelwood's work with high-need students is a bright spot. It ranks in the 75th percentile statewide for serving low-income students — an especially meaningful result given that nearly every student qualifies for subsidized lunch — and in the 72nd percentile for special education. Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, falling from 34.4% in 2021-22 to 18.6%, now below both district and state averages, though still behind strong local schools like North Canton Elementary and Bethel Elementary (12.7%–13.5%). Worth watching are a sharp decline in the gifted-and-talented subgroup's ranking and a gradual slide in results for female students. Overall, this is a solid mid-tier school with clear strengths in serving vulnerable students and improving attendance — and clear opportunities in reading and 5th-grade math.

490

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

1111 Plott Creek Road
Waynesville, NC 28786-4188

(828) 456-2406

District: Haywood County Schools

Students who attend Hazelwood Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Waynesville Middle
High:	Tuscola High

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Hispanic:

14.3%

Two or more races:

3.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hazelwood Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg67%

North Carolina avg61%

634^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 42% (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	56.4	634 of 1492	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.7	514 of 1490	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.3	439 of 1505	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	67.2	464 of 1502	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.6	423 of 1514	72.1%	★★★★☆
2021	71.7	375 of 1489	74.8%	★★★★☆
2019	44.7	849 of 1473	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.6	566 of 1434	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.4	568 of 1429	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.9	547 of 1425	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	73.6	351 of 1440	75.6%	★★★★☆
2014	69.2	408 of 1390	70.6%	★★★★☆
2013	80.1	227 of 1403	83.8%	★★★★☆
2012	73.9	321 of 1388	76.9%	★★★★☆
2011	79.7	207 of 1381	85.0%	★★★★☆
2010	78.7	224 of 1363	83.6%	★★★★☆
2009	76.0	278 of 1354	79.5%	★★★★☆
2008	59.7	552 of 1324	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	64.1	466 of 1293	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	57.2	580 of 1276	54.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	49.2	257 of 634	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.1	387 of 646	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.2	572 of 878	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.6	547 of 897	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.9	706 of 1447	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	586 of 1451	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.3	432 of 1455	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	58.7	578 of 1459	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.3	682 of 1458	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.2	459 of 1440	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	874 of 1424	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.8	527 of 1405	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	51.9	443 of 669	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.9	65 of 612	89.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	74.1	156 of 961	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	45.8	512 of 951	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.1	240 of 915	73.8%	★★★★☆
2022	66.0	217 of 893	75.7%	★★★★☆
2021	72.0	154 of 843	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	23.7	753 of 865	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.4	593 of 851	30.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.4	356 of 1434	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	71.2	289 of 1437	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	74.4	241 of 1450	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.0	196 of 1437	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	194 of 1366	85.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.3	184 of 1329	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	42.0	849 of 1361	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	65.4	384 of 1332	71.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.2	563 of 1451	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.5	451 of 1450	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.8	435 of 1464	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.5	339 of 1461	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	81.0	213 of 1464	85.5%	★★★★☆
2021	76.5	289 of 1444	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	47.9	784 of 1430	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.8	630 of 1413	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.4	227 of 815	72.1%	★★★★☆
2025	50.6	329 of 821	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.0	237 of 801	70.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.4	821 of 1146	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.1	824 of 1172	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.9	702 of 1166	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.7	645 of 1183	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.6	580 of 1194	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.2	572 of 1172	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.5	978 of 1183	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.2	784 of 1178	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)84th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+18 vs school

Special Education (2026)72nd percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)61st percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2022)59th percentile-13 vs school

Female (2026)51st percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2024)34th percentile-37 vs school

White (2026)28th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science72%+4 vs state

Mathematics65%~ state avg

Reading56%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Hazelwood 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
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		$9,672	$1,194	$8,479
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		$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		$10,398	$995	$9,403
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		$9,186	$1,048	$8,138
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		$11,365	$1,942	$9,424
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		$10,871	$924	$9,947
Scotts Creek School	Public	PK, KG-8	516 Parris Branch	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 631-2740	422	29	14.6	—	290 (68.7%)	9 (2.1%)	75 (17.8%)	6 (1.4%)	12 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.1%)	22.3	1240^th of 1492 public elementary schools	16.9%		32.3	1051^st of 1490 public elementary schools	29.5%	189	44.2	35.7	38.1	51.3	39.0	40.5	37.2	44.6	35.7	51.3	46.3	43.2	61.9	83.8	$9,973	$1,203	$8,770
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		$11,254	$1,792	$9,462
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		$11,227	$1,320	$9,907
Fairview School	Public	PK, KG-8	251 Big Orange Way	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 586-2819	797	48	16.5	98.0%	550 (69.0%)	11 (1.4%)	144 (18.1%)	10 (1.3%)	32 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.3%)	36.2	977^th of 1492 public elementary schools	34.5%		49.6	749^th of 1490 public elementary schools	49.7%	228	62.5	43.6	63.5	55.2	62.3	80.2	55.6	41.5	42.7	47.9	64.9	65.1	57.3	83.7	$8,533	$860	$7,673

Frequently Asked Questions about Hazelwood Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Hazelwood Elementary?

Students at Hazelwood Elementary are 81% White, 14% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Hazelwood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 490 students attended Hazelwood Elementary.

Is Hazelwood Elementary a good school?

Hazelwood Elementary ranks 634^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Hazelwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hazelwood Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Waynesville Middle
High : Tuscola High

What district is Hazelwood Elementary in?

Haywood County Schools

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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.