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Princeton Elementary

Q: Is Princeton Elementary a good school?

Princeton Elementary ranks 479 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

479^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Princeton Elementary is a PK–5 school in Princeton, NC, serving about 770 students in the Johnston County Public Schools district. The school has earned a 3-star rating and currently ranks in the 68th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, a dramatic rise from its pre-pandemic standing in the mid-to-low 40th percentile range. Nearly all of its students (99.6%) qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, yet academic outcomes place it well above average statewide.

For parents considering this school, the biggest strengths are math and science. Third-grade math proficiency sits at 76.6%, above both the district (69.4%) and state (66.4%) averages, and 5th-grade science reaches 77.7% versus 67.7% statewide. The school is also highly effective for student subgroups: economically disadvantaged students rank in the 78th percentile statewide, African American students in the 79th, Hispanic students in the 67th, and special education students in the 66th. That performance is unusual in the surrounding area—Selma Elementary and South Smithfield Elementary rank in the low 20th percentile despite serving similar populations, while Carver Heights Elementary and Dillard Academy sit near the bottom of the entire state. Princeton even outperforms Pine Level Elementary, the strongest school in the immediate area, in both 5th-grade science (77.7% vs. 72.7%) and 5th-grade reading (53.2% vs. 47.7%).

The area to watch is upper-elementary reading: 3rd graders are strong (66.9% proficient vs. 55.6% statewide), but the advantage narrows by 4th grade and disappears by 5th (53.2% vs. 55.3%). The gifted program's statewide percentile also dropped from 98th to 54th, though that may reflect small-cohort variation. Chronic absenteeism is 20.7%, lower than the state average of 24.2% and far better than nearby Grantham Elementary at 36.1%. Overall, Princeton is a steady, above-average school that stands out as one of the most reliable options in its region.

770

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569

(919) 936-0755

District: Johnston County Public Schools

Students who attend Princeton Elementary usually attend:

High:

Princeton High

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.3%

Hispanic:

25.5%

African American:

8.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Princeton Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 74th percentile in 2024 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 74th-percentile peak (2024) to 68th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

479^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 28 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

98^th of 246Johnston County Public 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	66.4	479 of 1492	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.1	444 of 1490	70.2%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	389 of 1505	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.1	409 of 1502	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	499 of 1514	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.8	706 of 1489	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.5	992 of 1473	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.8	860 of 1434	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.0	805 of 1429	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.1	856 of 1425	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.7	739 of 1440	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	63.7	484 of 1390	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	48.4	693 of 1403	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	73.9	322 of 1388	76.8%	★★★★☆
2011	75.2	289 of 1381	79.1%	★★★★☆
2010	57.1	662 of 1363	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.3	455 of 1354	66.4%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.8	194 of 903	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	60.1	285 of 918	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.5	462 of 924	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.5	346 of 927	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.4	743 of 896	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.0	634 of 949	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.2	711 of 927	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	48.6	259 of 634	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.0	172 of 646	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	25.0	749 of 878	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.8	687 of 897	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	197 of 519	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.5	84 of 563	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	67.6	97 of 533	81.8%	★★★★☆
2023	59.4	138 of 514	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	48.0	211 of 485	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.0	83 of 385	78.4%	★★★★☆
2019	33.7	361 of 497	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	501 of 1447	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.3	461 of 1451	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.7	447 of 1455	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.7	463 of 1459	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.6	738 of 1458	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.0	722 of 1440	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.0	952 of 1424	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.2	970 of 1405	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	345 of 743	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.0	14 of 710	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	70.3	59 of 669	91.2%	★★★★★
2023	68.5	38 of 582	93.5%	★★★★★
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	54.5	291 of 494	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.9	275 of 612	55.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.5	320 of 981	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.6	170 of 961	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	70.1	199 of 951	79.1%	★★★★☆
2023	56.4	336 of 915	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.3	361 of 893	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.5	382 of 843	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	24.2	746 of 865	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.8	589 of 851	30.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.9	311 of 1434	78.3%	★★★★☆
2025	67.9	351 of 1437	75.6%	★★★★☆
2024	70.1	319 of 1450	78.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	362 of 1437	74.8%	★★★★☆
2022	62.5	396 of 1366	71.0%	★★★★☆
2021	48.6	620 of 1329	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.0	1011 of 1361	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.6	906 of 1332	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.9	430 of 1451	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	67.4	415 of 1450	71.4%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	342 of 1464	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	354 of 1461	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	74.2	319 of 1464	78.2%	★★★★☆
2021	52.8	643 of 1444	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.6	973 of 1430	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.1	735 of 1413	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	70.5	41 of 159	74.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.1	277 of 815	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.9	170 of 821	79.3%	★★★★☆
2024	54.2	278 of 801	65.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	574 of 1146	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.7	591 of 1172	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.8	456 of 1166	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.3	425 of 1183	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.8	473 of 1194	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.7	773 of 1172	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.6	1016 of 1183	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.6	917 of 1178	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)79th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile+10 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)74th percentile~ school

Male (2026)70th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)67th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)66th percentile~ school

Female (2026)65th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)62nd percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2022)59th percentile-8 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)54th percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)50th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science78%+10 vs state

Mathematics70%+6 vs state

Reading59%+3 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, August 26, 2011

Great School, my boys have been going to princeton elem for 3 years now and we could not be more satisfied with the school, teachers and programs! Close Quote

Schools Near Princeton 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
Princeton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	650 Holt's Pond Rd	Princeton	27569	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 936-0755	770	50	15.4	—	464 (60.3%)	63 (8.2%)	196 (25.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.7%)	66.4	479^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.9%		67.1	444^th of 1490 public elementary schools	70.2%	35	76.6	65.9	67.6				66.9	58.5	53.2				77.7		$9,600	$584	$9,016
Pine Level Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	304 West Blanche Street	Pine Level	27568	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 965-3323	341	27	12.8	—	188 (55.1%)	15 (4.4%)	122 (35.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.7%)	73.7	350^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.5%		79.3	254^th of 1490 public elementary schools	83.0%	96	85.5	64.8	79.5				76.4	68.5	47.7				72.7		$11,201	$884	$10,317
Rosewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	126 Charlie Braswell Road	Goldsboro	27530	Wayne County	Wayne County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 705-6040	650	34	19.0	—	366 (56.3%)	96 (14.8%)	141 (21.7%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (6.0%)	68.7	443^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	70.3%		56.5	624^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.1%	181	64.0	76.0	77.7				54.0	67.0	57.1				79.5		$9,364	$1,293	$8,072
Micro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 E Main St	Micro	27555	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 588-4300	404	29	13.8	—	177 (43.8%)	39 (9.7%)	160 (39.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (6.2%)	49.9	730^th of 1492 public elementary schools	51.1%		54.6	658^th of 1490 public elementary schools	55.8%	72	55.7	69.0	63.1				51.4	67.2	36.9				72.3		$11,862	$1,093	$10,769
Selma Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	311 W Richardson St	Selma	27576	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 965-3361	794	63	12.5	—	60 (7.6%)	201 (25.3%)	492 (62.0%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.3%)	27.7	1145^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.3%		25.9	1159^th of 1490 public elementary schools	22.2%	14	55.1	46.2	61.9				39.7	37.9	46.0				54.7		$12,423	$1,727	$10,696
Northwest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1769 Pikeville/Princeton Hwy	Pikeville	27863	Wayne County	Wayne County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 242-3419	559	32	17.4	—	314 (56.2%)	97 (17.4%)	90 (16.1%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (9.1%)	64.7	511^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.8%		68.7	411^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.4%	100	82.9	79.4	69.1				55.7	61.9	51.5				66.0		$9,417	$983	$8,433
South Smithfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 W Sanders St	Smithfield	27577	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 934-8979	450	36	12.4	—	79 (17.6%)	152 (33.8%)	189 (42.0%)	6 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.9%)	24.2	1200^th of 1492 public elementary schools	19.6%		22.5	1234^th of 1490 public elementary schools	17.2%	34	59.5	53.2	36.4				45.9	50.0	37.7				44.2		$11,484	$1,732	$9,751
Glendale-Kenly Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 Bay Valley Rd	Kenly	27542	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 284-2821	433	30	14.4	—	217 (50.1%)	53 (12.2%)	135 (31.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.2%)	53.2	678^th of 1492 public elementary schools	54.6%		48.3	773^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	48.1%	95	81.8	54.8	51.5				68.2	40.5	52.9				82.4		$10,347	$1,266	$9,081
Dillard Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	504 West Elm Street	Goldsboro	27533	Wayne County	Dillard Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 581-0128	261	13	19.8	95.4%	1 (0.4%)	235 (90.0%)	20 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	4.1	1473^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	1.3%		7.2	1448^th of 1490 public elementary schools	2.8%	25	25.9	17.2	20.0	29.6	30.0	31.6	33.3	31.0	23.3	29.6	45.0	57.9	20.0	52.6
Grantham Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	174 Grantham School Rd	Goldsboro	27530	Wayne County	Wayne County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 689-5000	442	25	17.3	—	217 (49.1%)	57 (12.9%)	152 (34.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.4%)	67.6	461^st of 1492 public elementary schools	69.1%		73.2	343^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	77.0%	118	67.5	73.3					57.5	66.7							$10,962	$1,388	$9,573

Frequently Asked Questions about Princeton Elementary

How many students attend Princeton Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 770 students attended Princeton Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Princeton Elementary?

Students at Princeton Elementary are 60% White, 25% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Is Princeton Elementary a good school?

Princeton Elementary ranks 479^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Princeton Elementary in?

Johnston County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Princeton Elementary attend?

Students who attend Princeton Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Princeton High

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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.