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Southeast Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1329^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Located in Kinston, a small city in eastern North Carolina, Southeast Elementary is a PK–5 school serving 326 students in the Lenoir County Public Schools district, where nearly all students (97%) come from economically disadvantaged families. The school holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 11th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools — 1,329 out of 1,492 statewide. That is a real improvement from 2023–24, when Southeast ranked 1,501 out of 1,505 and sat at essentially the bottom of the state, but it remains firmly in the bottom tier. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern: 37.7% of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, compared with 26.5% for the district and 24.2% for the state.

Compared with nearby schools, Southeast's academic performance is strikingly low even though most surrounding schools serve similarly high-poverty populations. Moss Hill Elementary, 11 miles away, ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide, while Banks Elementary sits in the 65th and Northwest Elementary in the 52nd. Only Northeast Elementary, the closest school at 1.7 miles away, performs at a similar low level. Test scores illustrate the challenge clearly: 3rd grade math proficiency is just 13.5%, compared with 66.4% statewide — a gap of nearly 53 percentage points. Reading proficiency is also low in 3rd and 4th grades, though 5th grade reading (58.3%) actually exceeds both district and state averages.

There are encouraging signs, however. Chronic absenteeism has fallen from 62.5% during the pandemic to 37.7% today, and the school's state ranking has climbed off the very bottom. Southeast Elementary also spends more per student ($12,465) than nearby schools like Northwest Elementary ($8,808) and Moss Hill Elementary ($9,954), which suggests the outcomes gap is not driven by a lack of resources. The 5th grade reading and science results are genuine bright spots, but the wide swings between grade levels and subjects point to inconsistent instructional patterns. For the school to continue improving, getting students to school consistently and building strong foundational math and reading skills in the early grades will need to remain central priorities.

326

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

96.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

63.8%

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

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

201 McDaniels Street
Kinston, NC 28501

(252) 527-4210

District: Lenoir County Public Schools

Students who attend Southeast Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Rochelle Middle
High:	Kinston High
	Lenoir County Early College High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.5%

White:

7.4%

Hispanic:

5.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Southeast Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 2nd percentile in 2016 → 11th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (36% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg57%

North Carolina avg61%

1,329^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 2% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

163^rd of 246Lenoir 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	17.3	1329 of 1492	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	1298 of 1490	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	1.8	1501 of 1505	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.1	1474 of 1502	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.1	1482 of 1514	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	1425 of 1489	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.9	1339 of 1473	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.4	1410 of 1434	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	12.9	1294 of 1429	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	4.0	1398 of 1425	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.8	1427 of 1440	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.8	1385 of 1390	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.3	1391 of 1403	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	6.5	1344 of 1388	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	10.2	1307 of 1381	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	8.0	1306 of 1363	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	3.5	1331 of 1354	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	3.0	1307 of 1324	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	7.4	1254 of 1293	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	19.5	1122 of 1276	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	714 of 903	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.4	584 of 918	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	6.2	914 of 924	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.8	854 of 933	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.1	815 of 927	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.7	698 of 896	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.2	663 of 949	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	15.9	874 of 927	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	20.8	1239 of 1447	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.3	1098 of 1451	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	2.3	1451 of 1455	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.5	1426 of 1459	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.5	1422 of 1458	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.0	1363 of 1440	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	1315 of 1424	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.5	1396 of 1405	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.0	1239 of 1434	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.6	1112 of 1437	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	3.0	1445 of 1450	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.5	1373 of 1437	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.4	1289 of 1366	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.5	1255 of 1329	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.6	1100 of 1361	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.6	1283 of 1332	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	1288 of 1451	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.4	1318 of 1450	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.3	1458 of 1464	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.2	1424 of 1461	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.2	1443 of 1464	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.4	1370 of 1444	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	1291 of 1430	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.6	1367 of 1413	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)21st percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)14th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)11th percentile~ school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science54%-13 vs state

Reading38%-18 vs state

Mathematics30%-34 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southeast 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 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	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
Southeast Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 McDaniels Street	Kinston	28501	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-4210	326	24	13.5	96.9%	24 (7.4%)	269 (82.5%)	17 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.9%)	17.3	1329^th of 1492 public elementary schools	10.9%		18.8	1298^th of 1490 public elementary schools	12.9%	31	13.5	48.5	29.2				24.3	39.4	58.3				54.2		63.8%	0%	$12,465	$2,728	$9,737
Northeast Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1002 E Highland Ave	Kinston	28501	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-4166	465	27	17.2	—	11 (2.4%)	412 (88.6%)	23 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.9%)	17.7	1324^th of 1492 public elementary schools	11.3%		15.3	1345^th of 1490 public elementary schools	9.7%	21	49.2	25.3	48.9				38.1	22.8	36.2				72.3		94%	0%	$9,018	$1,456	$7,563
Northwest Elementary	Public	K-5	1701 Old Well Rd	Kinston	28504	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-5143	504	31	16.2	—	35 (6.9%)	374 (74.2%)	41 (8.1%)	19 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.9%)	51.3	710^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.4%		44.1	845^th of 1490 public elementary schools	43.3%	135	65.3	47.2	68.9				44.0	51.4	56.8				86.5		91.7%	0%	$8,808	$1,369	$7,440
Contentnea-Savannah School	Public	PK, KG-8	3400 Ferrell Road	Kinston	28501	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-8591	789	55	14.2	—	249 (31.6%)	362 (45.9%)	144 (18.3%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.5%)	42	877^th of 1492 public elementary schools	41.2%		39.5	927^th of 1490 public elementary schools	37.8%	50	60.0	59.5	57.5	46.8	27.5	31.6	46.3	55.4	46.6	48.6	38.2	43.2	75.3	57.9	96%	0%	$9,328	$1,658	$7,670
Banks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2148 Falling Creek Rd	Kinston	28504	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-9470	436	32	13.5	—	167 (38.3%)	151 (34.6%)	87 (20.0%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.7%)	64.2	515^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.5%		63.3	507^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.0%	8	72.1	60.7	70.3				55.9	62.3	57.8				78.1				$9,503	$1,056	$8,446
Grifton	Public	PK, KG-8	513 E McCrae St	Grifton	28530	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 524-5141	395	30	12.9	97.5%	106 (26.8%)	174 (44.1%)	87 (22.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.8%)	40.3	901^st of 1492 public elementary schools	39.6%		34.7	1008^th of 1490 public elementary schools	32.3%	107	71.8	43.9	59.5	41.3	48.8	41.5	65.0	43.9	50.0	23.9	46.3	43.4	76.2	60.4	96.4%	3.6%	$10,793	$1,896	$8,897
Moss Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	6040 Hwy 55 West	Kinston	28504	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 569-5071	371	28	13.2	—	214 (57.7%)	64 (17.3%)	74 (19.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.1%)	79.4	249^th of 1492 public elementary schools	83.3%		84.3	186^th of 1490 public elementary schools	87.5%	63	73.3	89.8	68.7				65.0	78.0	62.7				83.6		95%	3.3%	$9,954	$1,536	$8,418
La Grange Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	402 W Railroad St	La Grange	28551	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 566-4036	547	32	17.1	—	130 (23.8%)	236 (43.1%)	144 (26.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.2%)	36.5	968^th of 1492 public elementary schools	35.1%		33.5	1027^th of 1490 public elementary schools	31.1%	59	68.3	46.9	59.8				54.0	51.0	42.5				54.0		93.1%	0%	$9,939	$1,422	$8,517
Snow Hill Primary	Public	K-1	502 SE 2nd Street	Snow Hill	28580	Greene County	Greene County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 747-8113	403	32	12.5	—	114 (28.3%)	135 (33.5%)	141 (35.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)								(n/a)															97.1%	1.9%	$14,827	$3,208	$11,619
West Greene Elementary	Public	2-3	303 Kingold Boulevard	Snow Hill	28580	Greene County	Greene County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 747-3955	402	32	12.5	—	96 (23.9%)	138 (34.3%)	151 (37.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (4.0%)								(n/a)	35.6						31.8										$10,810	$1,815	$8,995

Frequently Asked Questions about Southeast Elementary

What schools do graduates of Southeast Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southeast Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Rochelle Middle
High : Kinston High
High : Lenoir County Early College High

Is Southeast Elementary a good school?

Southeast Elementary ranks in the bottom 10.9% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Southeast Elementary?

Students at Southeast Elementary are 83% African American, 7% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Southeast Elementary in?

Lenoir County Public Schools

How many students attend Southeast Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 326 students attended Southeast Elementary.

Rate Southeast Elementary!

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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.