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Southwood Elementary

Q: Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 744 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

744^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Southwood Elementary is a small PK–5 school in Kinston, North Carolina, serving about 218 students in the Lenoir County Public Schools district, where nearly all students (98.6%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school sits at the statewide median ranking, a notable accomplishment given that poverty levels are very high and the district as a whole ranks below average.

Southwood has shown a strong rebound from the COVID-era years. The school climbed from the 17th percentile in 2021–2022 to the 50th percentile today, holding steady there for two consecutive years. That progress is especially significant for its economically disadvantaged students, who jumped from the 18th percentile to above the statewide median for low-income students within a single year. Attendance has also improved sharply, with chronic absenteeism falling from about 40% in 2020–2021 to 22.6% — now below both the district and state averages. Southwood compares favorably with nearby schools as well. Test scores far surpass those of Southeast Elementary, a school with similar poverty levels, where 3rd-grade math proficiency was just 13.5% compared to Southwood's 67.6%. Even against Heritage Elementary, which serves a far less disadvantaged population, Southwood outperformed it in most tested subjects.

There are still challenges worth watching. The school's female students rank at the 67th percentile statewide, while male students rank at the 33rd percentile — a gap that has widened in recent years. Fourth-grade reading is another concern, with 44.4% proficiency versus the state average of 57.7%. Gifted and talented outcomes have also been low, although Southwood's small size means single-year percentages can fluctuate considerably, so these trends should be monitored over time. Overall, Southwood is a bright spot in the region, with particular strengths in 3rd-grade literacy and 5th-grade math and science.

218

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

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 — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

✓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 (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg57%

North Carolina avg61%

744^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to top 50% (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	49.1	744 of 1492	50.1%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	63.4	482 of 1447	66.7%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	23.1	710 of 743	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	50.0	687 of 1434	52.1%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	35.6	968 of 1451	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	48.2	623 of 1146	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
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)

Female (2026)67th percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2019)58th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)52nd percentile~ school

White (2026)46th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-17 vs school

Disabled (2021)27th percentile+4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)4th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science69%~ state avg

Mathematics64%~ state avg

Reading50%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwood 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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
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%)	49.1	744^th of 1492 public elementary schools	50.1%		50.7	739^th of 1490 public elementary schools	50.4%	5	67.6	50.0	75.0				58.8	44.4	47.2				69.4		$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%)	43.8	848^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.2%		54.1	669^th of 1490 public elementary schools	55.1%	179	60.8	40.3	58.4				50.0	50.7	56.4				72.7		$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%)	24.9	1192^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	20.1%		26.1	1153^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	22.6%	39	61.2	53.3	41.0	44.4	44.1	30.4	35.3	38.0	44.6	30.6	33.1	34.2	65.1	41.8	$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%)	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		$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%)	21.5	1256^th of 1492 public elementary schools	15.8%		19.9	1282^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	14.0%	26	51.0	43.9	51.1	38.9	39.1	53.3	46.9	39.8	36.7	48.9	37.9	40.2	37.8	54.2	$11,549	$1,108	$10,441
Comfort Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4384 Hwy 41 West	Comfort	28522	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%)	56.9	628^th of 1492 public elementary schools	57.9%		62	530^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.4%	98	81.3	75.0	61.1				56.3	75.0	55.6				38.9		$13,374	$1,886	$11,488
Kenansville Elementary	Public	K-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%)	33.5	1037^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.5%		39.6	924^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.0%	113	61.7	59.4	50.9	43.2	37.7	34.8	46.8	52.2	42.1	48.6	56.5	32.6	50.9	43.5	$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%)	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
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%)	28.7	1121^st of 1492 public elementary schools	24.9%		45.2	826^th of 1490 public elementary schools	44.6%	295	53.0	44.6	35.9	67.9	43.3	57.4	47.0	42.9	35.9	60.4	55.0	55.7	45.3	75.4	$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%)	39.9	907^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.2%		46.5	810^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.6%	97	65.5	56.0	52.6				47.1	52.0	46.3				64.2		$9,000	$730	$8,269

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwood Elementary

Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 744^th of 1492 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.

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

How many students attend Southwood Elementary?

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

What district is Southwood Elementary in?

Lenoir County Public 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.