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Hickory Grove Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1176^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hickory Grove Elementary is a PK–5 school in northeast Charlotte serving 643 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district, where nearly every student (99.5%) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has historically ranked near the bottom of North Carolina elementary schools, but it is no longer stuck there. Hickory Grove has climbed steadily from the 2nd percentile statewide in 2021–2022 to the 21st percentile in 2025–2026, earning a 1-star rating after years of 0-star, bottom-decile performance. It still trails district and state averages on end-of-grade tests, but the consistent upward movement is the most important takeaway.

One of the clearest bright spots is attendance. Hickory Grove's chronic absenteeism rate is now 21.2%, better than the district's 26.8% and the state's 24.2%, and far better than many nearby schools serving similar populations: Devonshire Elementary sits at 41.2%, Esperanza Global Academy at 37.0%, and Albemarle Road Elementary at 31.4%. The school has cut its own rate nearly in half since 2020–2021, when it was 39.2%. One comparative note: Hickory Grove's student–teacher ratio of 20.2:1 is higher than every nearby school with reported data, including Charlotte East Language Academy (11.6:1) and J. H. Gunn Elementary (16.4:1).

Academically, the school shows a distinct pattern. Third-grade math proficiency reached 61.2%, close to the district average of 70.7%. English Learner students perform at the 60th percentile statewide, and students with disabilities at the 47th percentile — genuine strengths for a school ranked in the bottom quarter overall. The bigger challenge is that early-grade momentum fades: 4th-grade math is just 40.9% proficient and 5th-grade math 46.7%, roughly 20–26 points below district averages. Sustaining and extending early-grade gains into the upper grades is the clearest path to Hickory Grove's next leap forward.

643

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6709 Pence Rd
Charlotte, NC 28215-4231

(980) 343-6464

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Students who attend Hickory Grove Elementary usually attend:

High:	Cochrane Collegiate Academy
	Garinger High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

49.6%

African American:

35.8%

Asian:

7.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hickory Grove Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 21st percentile in 2016 → 21st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (48% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

1,176^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

105^th of 246Charlotte-Mecklenburg 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	25.4	1176 of 1492	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.6	1332 of 1490	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	1395 of 1505	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.9	1421 of 1502	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.3	1478 of 1514	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.2	1427 of 1489	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.7	1008 of 1473	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.8	1028 of 1434	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	38.8	930 of 1429	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	26.7	1121 of 1425	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	30.3	1078 of 1440	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.4	1031 of 1390	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.2	1152 of 1403	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.9	1114 of 1388	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	11.8	1288 of 1381	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.2	1224 of 1363	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	9.3	1276 of 1354	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	11.5	1228 of 1324	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	13.2	1194 of 1293	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	15.5	1167 of 1276	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.1	588 of 903	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.0	710 of 918	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.8	712 of 924	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.5	661 of 933	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.6	893 of 927	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.6	800 of 896	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	51.8	415 of 949	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.4	413 of 927	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	16.7	860 of 897	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.5	206 of 519	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.7	232 of 563	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.9	359 of 533	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.9	431 of 514	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	387 of 485	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.9	359 of 385	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	67.3	99 of 497	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	39.5	259 of 421	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	1177 of 1447	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.8	1296 of 1451	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.4	1216 of 1455	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.5	1370 of 1459	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.0	1437 of 1458	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.0	1379 of 1440	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.7	945 of 1424	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.6	802 of 1405	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	616 of 981	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.4	748 of 961	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.3	853 of 951	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.0	870 of 915	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.5	855 of 893	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	785 of 843	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	56.1	348 of 865	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.2	312 of 851	63.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.6	791 of 1434	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.0	1051 of 1437	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	1154 of 1450	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.8	1298 of 1437	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.9	1321 of 1366	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.5	1119 of 1329	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.0	543 of 1361	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.3	547 of 1332	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	1097 of 1451	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	1277 of 1450	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	9.8	1402 of 1464	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.2	1364 of 1461	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	1408 of 1464	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.3	1372 of 1444	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	34.6	1028 of 1430	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	1113 of 1413	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.4	428 of 815	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.9	593 of 821	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)60th percentile+39 vs school

Special Education (2026)47th percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)45th percentile+24 vs school

Hispanic (2026)37th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2026)35th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)24th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)19th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2018)4th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science50%-18 vs state

Mathematics50%-14 vs state

Reading44%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Hickory Grove 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
Hickory Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6709 Pence Rd	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6464	643	32	20.2	99.5%	27 (4.2%)	230 (35.8%)	319 (49.6%)	45 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.3%)	25.4	1176^th of 1492 public elementary schools	21.2%		16.6	1332^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	10.6%	156	61.2	40.9	46.7				49.0	41.9	42.2				50.0		$10,933	$1,524	$9,409
American Leadership Academy Charlotte	Public, Charter	K-8	8000 Robinson Church Road	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	ALA Charlotte	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 595-3012	277	17	16.2	94.6%	8 (2.9%)	207 (74.7%)	43 (15.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (5.8%)	19	1293^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	13.3%		12.8	1381^st of 1490 public elementary schools	7.3%	88	62.5	35.1	42.4	28.6	25.6	26.1	22.5	54.1	39.4	39.3	39.5	34.8	34.4	43.5
Lawrence Orr Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4835 Shamrock Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-9919	751	50	15.1	99.6%	29 (3.9%)	230 (30.6%)	415 (55.3%)	54 (7.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.9%)	44.9	830^th of 1492 public elementary schools	44.4%		27.3	1123^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	24.6%	293	79.4	52.0	57.0				56.9	44.9	44.2				62.8		$10,043	$1,471	$8,571
J. H. Gunn Elementary	Public	K-5	7400 Harrisburg Rd	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6477	616	37	16.4	99.5%	33 (5.4%)	210 (34.1%)	322 (52.3%)	36 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.3%)	33.6	1034^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.7%		27.2	1130^th of 1490 public elementary schools	24.2%	96	58.7	52.1	46.8				52.2	51.5	41.4				61.3		$10,183	$1,341	$8,842
Devonshire Elementary	Public	K-5	6500 Barrington Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6445	550	32	17.2	99.5%	17 (3.1%)	125 (22.7%)	394 (71.6%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	4 (0.7%)	14.1	1374^th of 1492 public elementary schools	7.9%		9.8	1425^th of 1490 public elementary schools	4.4%	51	31.9	32.9	52.6				26.4	24.7	34.6				62.8		$9,844	$1,144	$8,700
Charlotte East Language Academy	Public, Magnet	K-8	6108 Wilora Lake Rd	Charlotte	28212	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-0380	594	51	11.6	99.5%	43 (7.2%)	40 (6.7%)	496 (83.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (1.9%)	66.1	491^st of 1492 public elementary schools	67.1%		61.6	536^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.0%	45	81.3	78.5	68.6	72.7	62.3	71.7	49.5	68.4	55.7	48.5	44.2	58.7	71.4	87.0	$12,246	$1,264	$10,982
Albemarle Road Elementary	Public	K-5	7800 Riding Trail Rd	Charlotte	28212	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6414	711	43	16.7	99.6%	18 (2.5%)	156 (21.9%)	449 (63.2%)	75 (10.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.7%)	32.5	1048^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.8%		22.1	1243^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	16.6%	195	59.4	55.9	50.0				45.3	51.0	44.0				54.5		$10,415	$1,158	$9,257
Esperanza Global Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	5932 Farm Pond Lane	Charlotte	28212	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 343-6270	538	32	16.7	99.4%	33 (6.1%)	107 (19.9%)	355 (66.0%)	34 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	24.9	1193^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	20.0%		13.8	1367^th of 1490 public elementary schools	8.3%	174	61.0	47.0	63.3				23.4	25.3	32.9				60.8
Movement School Eastland	Public, Charter	K-5	5249 Central Avenue	Charlotte	28212	Mecklenburg County	Movement School Eastland	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 532-0640	523	31	16.8	99.2%	8 (1.5%)	322 (61.6%)	113 (21.6%)	10 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	69 (13.2%)	47.5	774^th of 1492 public elementary schools	48.1%		41.4	892^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	40.1%	118	67.6	66.7	43.2				47.9	60.0	56.8				54.5
Windsor Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3910 Sudbury Rd	Charlotte	28205	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6405	470	29	16.0	99.4%	19 (4.0%)	62 (13.2%)	343 (73.0%)	27 (5.7%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.9%)	12 (2.6%)	48.1	763^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	48.9%		43.1	863^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	42.1%	100	73.4	46.5	84.4				55.7	36.6	53.1				60.9		$10,837	$1,304	$9,533

Frequently Asked Questions about Hickory Grove Elementary

What schools do graduates of Hickory Grove Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hickory Grove Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Cochrane Collegiate Academy
High : Garinger High School

What district is Hickory Grove Elementary in?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

What is the racial makeup of Hickory Grove Elementary?

Students at Hickory Grove Elementary are 50% Hispanic, 36% African American, 7% Asian, 4% White, 3% Two or more races.

Is Hickory Grove Elementary a good school?

Hickory Grove Elementary ranks in the bottom 21.2% of North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Hickory Grove Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 643 students attended Hickory Grove Elementary.

Rate Hickory Grove 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.