Summary
Benson Elementary serves 719 students in grades PK–5 in Benson, North Carolina, and is part of Johnston County Public Schools. The school’s long-term story is genuinely encouraging: once among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state, Benson sat at the 6th percentile in 2017-18 before climbing into the 57th–75th percentile range in recent years. Its current statewide rank of 581 out of 1,492 elementary schools places it in the 61st percentile with 3 stars, which closely tracks its district’s overall standing. The most recent school year brought a pullback from the school’s early-2020s peak, but the overall trajectory remains remarkably different from where it began.
One of Benson’s most striking strengths is how well it serves students who are historically hardest to support. With nearly every student qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch, Benson ranked in the 82nd percentile statewide for Hispanic students, the 89th percentile for English Language Learners, and the 80th percentile for low-income students. Chronic absenteeism also improved dramatically, falling from 36.4% in 2020-21 to 16.7% in 2024-25—now well below both the district and state averages. Academically, the school shows a clear pattern: 3rd and 4th grade math and reading results run above district and state averages, but 5th grade reading (47.2% proficient) and math (60.8%) trail the district significantly. The most urgent watch item is special education performance, which fell from the 84th to the 24th percentile statewide in a single year.
Compared with nearby schools, Benson looks strong. It serves a far poorer student body than Buies Creek Elementary, where about 58% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet Benson posts dramatically higher test scores—such as 71.7% vs. 29.8% in 4th grade math. Benson also substantially outperforms Harnett County schools like Dunn Elementary, Erwin Elementary, and Coats Elementary, as well as West Smithfield Elementary in the same district. Within its region, Benson is clearly adding meaningful academic value. That said, Dixon Road Elementary—also in Johnston County—ranks in the 78th percentile and outperforms Benson in nearly every tested grade and subject while posting a lower 10.7% chronic absenteeism rate. The clearest opportunities for Benson are to focus on 5th grade performance, watch the special education numbers closely, and continue the attendance progress it has already made.
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