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Southwood Elementary

Q: Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 739 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Southwood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 218 students attended Southwood Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Southwood Elementary?

Students at Southwood Elementary are 64% White, 16% African American, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Southwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southwood Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Woodington Middle High : Lenoir County Early College High High : South Lenoir High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

739^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Southwood Elementary is a public elementary school located in Kinston, North Carolina, serving 235 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Lenoir County Public Schools district, which is ranked 165 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwood Elementary's student performance, as measured by proficiency rates on End-of-Grade (EOG) tests, is generally lower than the state and district averages across various grade levels and subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Southwood's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was 61.1%, compared to the district's 57.5% and the state's 64.1%. The school's performance has been declining over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 570 out of 1,434 elementary schools in 2017-2018 to 739 out of 1,490 in 2024-2025. However, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with female students generally outperforming male students and Hispanic and low socioeconomic status (SES) students performing better than the overall student population.

Southwood Elementary's high poverty rate, with 98.47% to 98.76% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in recent years, is a significant factor that likely contributes to the school's overall academic performance challenges. Compared to nearby schools, such as Banks Elementary and Moss Hill Elementary, Southwood's performance is generally lower. However, the school outperforms some other nearby schools, such as Southeast Elementary. Despite having a higher per-student spending and a lower student-teacher ratio than the nearby schools, Southwood Elementary's challenges suggest a need for a multifaceted approach to address the specific needs of its student population.

218

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,722

Per pupil spending ?

98.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1245 Hwy 58 South
Kinston, NC 28504

(252) 527-9081

District: Lenoir County Public Schools

Students who attend Southwood Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Woodington Middle
High:	Lenoir County Early College High
	South Lenoir High

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.2%

African American:

15.6%

Hispanic:

14.7%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Southwood Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 38th percentile in 2015 → 50th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the North Carolina median (50th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg54%

North Carolina avg57%

739^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 38% (2015) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 9Elementary Schools in the Lenoir County Public Schools

165^th of 242Lenoir 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
2025	50.7	739 of 1490	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.6	1108 of 1505	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.8	1093 of 1502	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	1259 of 1514	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	1153 of 1489	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.8	804 of 1473	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.4	570 of 1434	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	43.4	868 of 1429	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.3	965 of 1425	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.6	898 of 1440	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.1	790 of 1390	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.7	814 of 1403	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.9	893 of 1388	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.1	743 of 1381	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	43.5	870 of 1363	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.8	729 of 1354	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.3	689 of 1324	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	60.4	540 of 1293	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.2	600 of 1276	53.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	30.9	473 of 646	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.8	282 of 878	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.6	336 of 897	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	54.8	635 of 1451	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.7	973 of 1455	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	1046 of 1459	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.2	1250 of 1458	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.4	1032 of 1440	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.0	887 of 1424	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.2	702 of 1405	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	0.6	708 of 710	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.2	668 of 669	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	1.1	579 of 582	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.1	495 of 500	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	0.4	493 of 494	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.7	596 of 612	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	55.3	359 of 865	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	62.1	446 of 1437	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	26.9	1185 of 1450	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.8	877 of 1437	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.2	1137 of 1366	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.0	1225 of 1329	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	47.0	751 of 1361	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.8	591 of 1332	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	45.5	803 of 1450	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.1	1156 of 1464	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	1087 of 1461	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	1139 of 1464	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.6	1189 of 1444	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.0	641 of 1430	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.9	436 of 1413	69.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.4	625 of 1172	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.0	966 of 1166	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	1016 of 1183	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	1147 of 1194	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	1100 of 1172	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	33.3	888 of 1183	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	46.6	687 of 1178	41.7%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2025)69th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2019)58th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)56th percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)47th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)45th percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2021)27th percentile+4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)<1st percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science63%~ state avg

Mathematics58%-3 vs state

Reading52%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Southwood Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Southwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1245 Hwy 58 South	Kinston	28504	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-9081	218	19	11.4	98.6%	140 (64.2%)	34 (15.6%)	32 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.5%)	50.7	739^th of 1490 public elementary schools	50.4%		29.6	1108^th of 1505 public elementary schools	26.4%	369	61.1	58.1	53.3				44.4	58.1	53.3				63.3		$10,722	$2,082	$8,640
Pink Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2666 HC Turner Road	Pink Hill	28572	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 568-4176	437	30	14.4	99.3%	220 (50.3%)	35 (8.0%)	166 (38.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.2%)	54.1	669^th of 1490 public elementary schools	55.1%		68.2	441^st of 1505 public elementary schools	70.7%	228	87.5	48.8	52.2				48.4	58.5	53.6				60.9		$10,287	$1,414	$8,873
B F Grady Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2627 N Nc 11 & 903	Albertson	28508	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 568-3487	865	54	16.0	99.7%	184 (21.3%)	56 (6.5%)	600 (69.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (2.8%)	26.1	1153^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	22.6%		13.7	1383^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	8.1%	230	72.5	43.0	47.6	48.2	42.7	31.3	36.3	41.3	30.1	30.4	28.0	33.3	37.9	52.1	$10,266	$1,280	$8,986
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	99.2%	214 (57.7%)	64 (17.3%)	74 (19.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.1%)	84.3	186^th of 1490 public elementary schools	87.5%		74.1	341^st of 1505 public elementary schools	77.3%	155	82.8	78.8	70.7				57.8	75.8	65.5				82.8		$9,954	$1,536	$8,418
Beulaville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	138 Lyman Road	Beulaville	28518	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 298-3171	877	54	16.3	99.5%	527 (60.1%)	129 (14.7%)	179 (20.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	37 (4.2%)	19.9	1282^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	14.0%		16	1346^th of 1505 public elementary schools	10.6%	64	49.5	52.8	28.4	37.5	46.7	41.7	34.7	42.7	33.0	41.3	31.8	42.7	28.4	46.9	$11,549	$1,108	$10,441
Comfort Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4384 Hwy 41 West	Comfort	28585	Jones County	Jones County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 324-4249	127	9	13.8	97.6%	90 (70.9%)	10 (7.9%)	10 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (13.4%)	62	530^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.4%		52.2	713^th of 1505 public elementary schools	52.6%	183	73.7	55.0	70.6				47.4	65.0	64.7				52.9		$13,374	$1,886	$11,488
Kenansville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	328 Limestone Rd	Kenansville	28349	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 296-1647	599	39	15.5	99.5%	214 (35.7%)	171 (28.5%)	187 (31.2%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.3%)	39.6	924^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.0%		40.3	927^th of 1505 public elementary schools	38.4%	3	63.6	42.9	57.1	40.3	42.9	37.1	45.5	30.4	54.3	46.3	44.9	42.9	60.0	34.3	$10,620	$1,785	$8,835
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	99.3%	167 (38.3%)	151 (34.6%)	87 (20.0%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.7%)	63.3	507^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.0%		45.2	830^th of 1505 public elementary schools	44.9%	323	61.4	70.1	67.1				45.7	65.7	50.6				73.4		$9,503	$1,056	$8,446
Chinquapin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3894 NC 50 South	Chinquapin	28521	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 285-3476	537	35	15.3	99.4%	367 (68.3%)	68 (12.7%)	78 (14.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.1%)	45.2	826^th of 1490 public elementary schools	44.6%		46.2	816^th of 1505 public elementary schools	45.8%	10	51.9	31.7	70.6	60.0	60.0	34.9	42.6	45.0	52.9	56.4	50.0	50.8	64.7	49.2	$14,420	$1,253	$13,167
Heritage Elementary School	Public	K-5	7444 Richlands Highway	Richlands	28574	Onslow County	Onslow County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 324-3139	565	40	14.1	52.9%	367 (65.0%)	47 (8.3%)	103 (18.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (7.8%)	46.5	810^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.6%		45.7	824^th of 1505 public elementary schools	45.2%	14	77.5	47.8	45.5				52.0	53.3	47.7				50.6		$9,000	$730	$8,269

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwood Elementary

How many students attend Southwood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 218 students attended Southwood Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Southwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southwood Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Woodington Middle
High : Lenoir County Early College High
High : South Lenoir High

What district is Southwood Elementary in?

Lenoir County Public Schools

Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 739^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Southwood Elementary?

Students at Southwood Elementary are 64% White, 16% African American, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

Rate Southwood Elementary!

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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.