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Rock Springs Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

118^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Rock Springs Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Denver, NC, serving 639 students in the Lincoln County Schools district. The school has earned a 5-star statewide rating in every reported year since 2015–2016 and currently ranks 118th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the 92nd percentile statewide — far ahead of every other school in its own district.

Academically, Rock Springs posts proficiency rates well above both district and state averages in every subject and grade level. In the latest school year, 5th grade science proficiency reached 90.6%, compared to 76.3% for the district and 67.7% statewide. Math proficiency ranges from 80.9% to 87.5% across grades 3–5, and reading proficiency ranges from 70.2% to 77.5%. The school has also made notable progress in early reading: 3rd grade reading proficiency jumped from 61.7% in 2023–2024 to 77.5% in the latest year. Among nearby schools, only Woodland Heights Elementary and Lake Norman Elementary post comparable results. Within Lincoln County, Catawba Springs Elementary is the closest in-district competitor but trails meaningfully, ranking in the 84th percentile, while St James Elementary sits at the 71st percentile.

Rock Springs also stands out for serving its students equitably. Economically disadvantaged students rank in the 93rd percentile statewide, and Hispanic students rank in the 96th percentile. Chronic absenteeism is a clear strength at 11.3%, well below the district rate of 17.2% and the state rate of 24.2%, though still higher than the 5.2% rate the school posted before the pandemic. The school achieves these results while spending about $7,824 per student — similar to surrounding schools but notably less than nearby schools such as Iron Station Elementary and Balls Creek Elementary. Areas worth watching include a recent dip in special education performance and lower results among multi-racial students, but overall Rock Springs remains one of the strongest elementary options in the Lake Norman region.

639

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

21.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3633 Hwy 16 N
Denver, NC 28037

(704) 483-2281

District: Lincoln County Schools

Students who attend Rock Springs Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	North Lincoln Middle
High:	North Lincoln High

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.4%

Hispanic:

7.7%

Two or more races:

5.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Rock Springs Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 95th percentile in 2016 → 92nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (81% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of North Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school81%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

118^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

75^th of 246Lincoln County 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	89.8	118 of 1492	92.1%	★★★★★
2025	91.1	96 of 1490	93.6%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	117 of 1505	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	106 of 1502	92.9%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	71 of 1514	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	95.6	44 of 1489	97.0%	★★★★★
2019	93.1	52 of 1473	96.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.5	34 of 1434	97.6%	★★★★★
2017	93.6	39 of 1429	97.3%	★★★★★
2016	91.3	73 of 1425	94.9%	★★★★★
2015	84.2	167 of 1440	88.4%	★★★★☆
2014	91.5	85 of 1390	93.9%	★★★★★
2013	93.4	66 of 1403	95.3%	★★★★★
2012	88.9	51 of 1388	96.3%	★★★★★
2011	84.3	135 of 1381	90.2%	★★★★★
2010	86.8	93 of 1363	93.2%	★★★★★
2009	82.9	154 of 1354	88.6%	★★★★☆
2008	89.5	69 of 1324	94.8%	★★★★★
2007	88.3	50 of 1293	96.1%	★★★★★
2006	86.5	88 of 1276	93.1%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	97.2	5 of 634	99.2%	★★★★★
2021	88.7	29 of 646	95.5%	★★★★★
2019	81.7	73 of 878	91.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.9	127 of 1447	91.2%	★★★★★
2025	90.6	85 of 1451	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.6	145 of 1455	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	88.9	106 of 1459	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	92.1	69 of 1458	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	96.9	21 of 1440	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	93.3	32 of 1424	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	92.1	48 of 1405	96.6%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.0	22 of 743	97.0%	★★★★★
2025	69.0	151 of 710	78.7%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	136 of 669	79.7%	★★★★☆
2022	60.1	236 of 500	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.5	80 of 494	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	65.9	69 of 612	88.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	91.6	40 of 981	95.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.3	101 of 1434	93.0%	★★★★★
2025	80.6	146 of 1437	89.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.4	242 of 1450	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	83.0	120 of 1437	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	84.8	90 of 1366	93.4%	★★★★★
2019	83.3	116 of 1361	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	85.6	91 of 1332	93.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.7	119 of 1451	91.8%	★★★★★
2025	88.8	107 of 1450	92.6%	★★★★★
2024	90.3	98 of 1464	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	87.9	121 of 1461	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	92.3	68 of 1464	95.4%	★★★★★
2021	92.1	78 of 1444	94.6%	★★★★★
2019	90.8	79 of 1430	94.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.7	23 of 1413	98.4%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.3	101 of 181	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.1	153 of 815	81.2%	★★★★☆
2025	92.5	21 of 821	97.4%	★★★★★
2024	87.6	47 of 801	94.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	77.4	233 of 1146	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	79.1	190 of 1172	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.8	227 of 1166	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	78.0	209 of 1183	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	84.2	131 of 1194	89.0%	★★★★☆
2021	87.9	92 of 1172	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	84.6	118 of 1183	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	87.1	89 of 1178	92.4%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2022)99th percentile+4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)97th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)96th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)81st percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)80th percentile-12 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)44th percentile-48 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science91%+23 vs state

Mathematics85%+21 vs state

Reading73%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rock Springs 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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rock Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3633 Hwy 16 N	Denver	28037	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 483-2281	639	40	16.1	21.4%	520 (81.4%)	28 (4.4%)	49 (7.7%)	8 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.2%)	89.8	118^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.1%		91.1	96^th of 1490 public elementary schools	93.6%	22	87.5	80.9	85.5		77.5	70.2	71.8		90.6	$7,824	$403	$7,420
St James Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1774 St James Church Road	Denver	28037	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-1958	653	43	15.2	27.0%	520 (79.6%)	23 (3.5%)	62 (9.5%)	8 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.8%)	69	435^th of 1492 public elementary schools	70.8%		79	264^th of 1490 public elementary schools	82.3%	171	71.3	70.1	68.7		60.2	61.5	60.9		80.0	$7,459	$375	$7,084
Catawba Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	206 North Little Egypt Rd	Denver	28037	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-1895	543	33	16.3	34.4%	371 (68.3%)	43 (7.9%)	59 (10.9%)	16 (2.9%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (8.5%)	80.8	233^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	84.4%		84.1	189^th of 1490 public elementary schools	87.3%	44	84.4	74.5	72.2		67.8	73.4	69.1		76.3	$7,867	$484	$7,383
Pumpkin Center Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	3970 King Wilkinson Road	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-1394	325	24	13.6	99.1%	260 (80.0%)	10 (3.1%)	32 (9.8%)	11 (3.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)								(n/a)										$9,198	$156	$9,042
Pumpkin Center Intermediate	Public	3-5	3980 King Wilkinson Road	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-1504	295	19	15.9	99.0%	239 (81.0%)	4 (1.4%)	31 (10.5%)	8 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.4%)	57.2	623^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	58.2%		59.6	571^st of 1490 public elementary schools	61.7%	52	60.5	48.2	69.8		54.7	49.4	65.1		83.0	$9,377	$670	$8,707
Woodland Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	288 Forest Lake Boulevard	Mooresville	28117	Iredell County	Iredell-Statesville Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 663-1370	594	39	15.4	16.7%	493 (83.0%)	13 (2.2%)	41 (6.9%)	23 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.0%)	92.5	78^th of 1492 public elementary schools	94.8%		90.5	103^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	93.1%	25	84.3	90.1	88.1		69.7	78.2	85.3		92.7	$7,823	$341	$7,482
Sherrills Ford Elementary	Public	K-6	8103 Sherrills Ford Road	Sherrills Ford	28673	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 478-2662	633	35	17.9	42.3%	464 (73.3%)	38 (6.0%)	71 (11.2%)	9 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (7.7%)	66.9	471^st of 1492 public elementary schools	68.4%		75.4	312^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.1%	159	78.9	75.0	65.3	73.2	55.8	59.8	54.7	66.0	67.4	$8,556	$592	$7,964
Lake Norman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	255 Oak Tree Road	Mooresville	28117	Iredell County	Iredell-Statesville Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 662-8261	641	43	14.9	19.3%	411 (64.1%)	33 (5.1%)	119 (18.6%)	36 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	39 (6.1%)	88.7	135^th of 1492 public elementary schools	91.0%		87.8	140^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.6%	5	90.0	85.2	90.5		70.0	68.9	73.7		86.3	$8,170	$300	$7,869
Charles H Tuttle Elementary	Public	K-6	2872 Water Plant Road	Maiden	28650	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 428-3080	368	22	16.8	99.2%	262 (71.2%)	4 (1.1%)	54 (14.7%)	25 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.3%)	58.5	607^th of 1492 public elementary schools	59.3%		63.2	508^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.9%	99	54.5	75.0	61.2	72.3	56.8	69.6	44.9	53.8	67.3	$9,003	$737	$8,265
Balls Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2620 Balls Creek Road	Newton	28658	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 464-4766	686	42	16.4	99.6%	508 (74.1%)	29 (4.2%)	65 (9.5%)	36 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.0%)	69.3	429^th of 1492 public elementary schools	71.2%		68.4	418^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.9%	11	69.9	70.6	75.5	88.1	55.3	65.7	57.8	51.5	79.4	$9,471	$1,315	$8,156

Frequently Asked Questions about Rock Springs Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Rock Springs Elementary?

Students at Rock Springs Elementary are 81% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% African American, 1% Asian.

Is Rock Springs Elementary a good school?

Yes. Rock Springs Elementary ranks in the top 7.9% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What district is Rock Springs Elementary in?

Lincoln County Schools

What schools do graduates of Rock Springs Elementary attend?

Students who attend Rock Springs Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : North Lincoln Middle
High : North Lincoln High

How many students attend Rock Springs Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 639 students attended Rock Springs Elementary.

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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.