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Newell Elementary

Public Grades K-5

1363^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Newell Elementary is a K–5 school in northeastern Charlotte, NC, serving 554 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district, where nearly all families qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has faced significant academic challenges for years, ranking in the bottom 10% of North Carolina elementary schools, though it has been slowly climbing from the 2nd percentile in 2021–22 to the 9th percentile in 2025–26. Despite that steady progress, proficiency rates remain far below district and state averages in every subject — most notably in 4th grade reading and math, where Newell trails its district by roughly 25 to 32 percentage points.

There are some encouraging bright spots. Fifth grade science proficiency jumped from 25.8% in 2024–25 to 57.3% in 2025–26 — a dramatic one-year gain that now places that grade close to district-level performance in science. Special education students also improved remarkably, rising from the 9th to the 46th percentile statewide in the same period, and English Language Learner, Hispanic, low-income, and female students have all shown relative gains in recent years. One concern is that male students have not shared in this progress, ranking at only the 6th percentile in 2025–26.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious and worsening obstacle: more than one in three Newell students were chronically absent in 2024–25, up from 27.7% two years earlier and well above the district rate of 26.8%. This matters particularly because Dorothy J Vaughan Academy, just over a mile away and serving a similarly high-poverty community, ranks in the 66th percentile statewide with an absenteeism rate of only 16.5% — evidence that strong outcomes are possible in this area. Newell does have a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.2, so with continued focus on attendance and classroom support, the school appears well positioned to build on its recent upward trend.

554

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

325 Rocky River Road West
Charlotte, NC 28213-5015

(980) 343-6820

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Students who attend Newell Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Martin Luther King Junior Middle
High:	Julius L. Chambers High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

65.3%

African American:

28.7%

Asian:

2.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Newell Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 13th percentile in 2016 → 9th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (41% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

1,363^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

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	15.0	1363 of 1492	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.7	1397 of 1490	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.1	1424 of 1505	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.4	1436 of 1502	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.2	1480 of 1514	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.0	1383 of 1489	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.5	1195 of 1473	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	1112 of 1434	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.8	1174 of 1429	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	18.0	1236 of 1425	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	22.3	1182 of 1440	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	35.6	923 of 1390	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.5	894 of 1403	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.5	1018 of 1388	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.5	944 of 1381	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	36.4	982 of 1363	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.7	1015 of 1354	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	18.1	1155 of 1324	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	22.0	1121 of 1293	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.1	955 of 1276	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.0	733 of 903	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.9	787 of 918	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.6	716 of 924	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	793 of 933	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	871 of 927	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	31.7	624 of 896	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.8	597 of 949	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.4	446 of 927	51.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.1	377 of 519	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.4	431 of 563	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	483 of 533	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	27.5	399 of 514	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.8	437 of 485	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.6	371 of 385	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	50.0	205 of 497	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.7	244 of 421	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.4	1264 of 1447	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.2	1390 of 1451	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.5	1410 of 1455	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.9	1419 of 1459	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	1402 of 1458	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.9	1333 of 1440	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	1099 of 1424	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.6	1080 of 1405	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.5	785 of 981	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.1	822 of 961	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	871 of 951	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	817 of 915	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.0	860 of 893	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.7	791 of 843	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	42.1	514 of 865	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.0	471 of 851	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.0	6 of 11	45.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.7	21 of 30	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.5	1058 of 1434	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.8	1220 of 1437	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.4	1195 of 1450	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	1343 of 1437	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.2	1344 of 1366	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.8	1131 of 1329	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	996 of 1361	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.2	853 of 1332	36.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	13.2	1364 of 1451	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.5	1317 of 1450	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.4	1342 of 1464	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.4	1358 of 1461	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.2	1434 of 1464	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.8	1364 of 1444	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.7	1214 of 1430	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.0	1120 of 1413	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	437 of 815	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	21.2	751 of 821	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	707 of 801	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)46th percentile+38 vs school

Homeless (2025)45th percentile+39 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)27th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2026)20th percentile+11 vs school

African American (2026)19th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)13th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)6th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science57%-10 vs state

Mathematics43%-21 vs state

Reading34%-23 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Great school - great teachers and very amazing atmosphere! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, January 14, 2012

The teachers at this school are exceptional, only limited by the disorganized, willfully noncommunicative so called administrators. This school does not facilitate the use of weekly spelling/vocabulary exams or the use of the accelerated reader program, both of which I find critical to the success of young children (with regards to standardized testing). The administration has multiple issues, beginning with miscommunication, hostility towards parent(s) whom express concern/dissent with their policies and a principal who finds it inconvenient to even speak with students's parents by phone when requested. This school needs an administrative overhaul, so that those who "run" the school are just as efficient as the teachers whom the school employs. Close Quote

Schools Near Newell 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
Newell Elementary	Public	K-5	325 Rocky River Road West	Charlotte	28213	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6820	554	42	13.2	99.5%	12 (2.2%)	159 (28.7%)	362 (65.3%)	14 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	5 (0.9%)	15	1363^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	8.6%		11.7	1397^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.2%	34	47.3	34.3	47.6				35.1	29.3	37.0				57.3		$9,891	$1,089	$8,802
Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2945 Johnston Oehler Rd.	Charlotte	28269	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(980) 343-0030	309	20	15.2	99.0%	18 (5.8%)	195 (63.1%)	76 (24.6%)	10 (3.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	64.3	514^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.5%		72.6	352^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	76.4%	162	70.8	70.5	63.6				72.9	69.6	53.6				61.8		$9,792	$720	$9,072
Gov's Village STEM (Lower)	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-4	7910 Neal Rd	Charlotte	28262	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-5268	784	47	16.6	99.6%	22 (2.8%)	420 (53.6%)	204 (26.0%)	112 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.2%)	22.1	1242^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	16.8%		22.1	1242^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	16.6%		48.3	44.7					47.7	39.8							$9,622	$1,382	$8,241
United Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	1406 Suther Road	Charlotte	28213	Mecklenburg County	United Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(980) 819-0555	250	19	13.0		16 (6.4%)	135 (54.0%)	69 (27.6%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.4%)	40.3	900^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.7%		33.5	1028^th of 1490 public elementary schools	31.0%	128	70.8	41.7	50.0	52.6	26.3	14.3	66.7	62.5	33.3	47.4	31.6	42.9	33.3	35.7
Joseph W Grier Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	8330 Grier Rd	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-5671	529	33	16.2	99.4%	30 (5.7%)	239 (45.2%)	223 (42.2%)	25 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.3%)	23.2	1224^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.0%		19.1	1294^th of 1490 public elementary schools	13.2%	70	52.7	46.3	42.5				44.0	54.9	35.6				47.7		$10,343	$1,072	$9,271
Hidden Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5100 Snow White Ln	Charlotte	28213	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6810	808	49	16.4	99.6%	16 (2.0%)	252 (31.2%)	522 (64.6%)	10 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	6.1	1458^th of 1492 public elementary schools	2.3%		3.8	1478^th of 1490 public elementary schools	0.8%	20	48.2	31.1	29.9				19.7	25.0	28.7				39.0		$10,096	$1,186	$8,910
Grove Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7515 The Plaza	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 343-6900	740	42	17.6	99.6%	57 (7.7%)	252 (34.1%)	360 (48.6%)	42 (5.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.6%)	21.2	1261^st of 1492 public elementary schools	15.5%		27.1	1134^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.9%	127	57.6	41.8	38.5				45.5	45.1	44.4				42.7
Briarwood Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Wilann Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6475	649	39	16.5	99.5%	15 (2.3%)	166 (25.6%)	418 (64.4%)	31 (4.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.5%)	31.6	1063^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	28.8%		27.1	1132^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	24.0%	69	62.6	60.9	53.5				41.4	46.7	41.6				50.5		$10,516	$1,259	$9,257
KIPP Charlotte	Public, Charter	K-8	931 Wilann Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	KIPP: Charlotte	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 537-2044	813	50	16.3	98.9%	5 (0.6%)	661 (81.3%)	103 (12.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.0%)	18.5	1310^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.2%		18.6	1306^th of 1490 public elementary schools	12.3%	4	48.7	36.5	35.9	52.4	26.0	26.7	34.6	40.4	33.3	43.4	37.7	51.7	55.3	73.3
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Newell Elementary

What schools do graduates of Newell Elementary attend?

Students who attend Newell Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Martin Luther King Junior Middle
High : Julius L. Chambers High School

What is the racial makeup of Newell Elementary?

Students at Newell Elementary are 65% Hispanic, 29% African American, 3% Asian, 2% White.

How many students attend Newell Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 554 students attended Newell Elementary.

What district is Newell Elementary in?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Is Newell Elementary a good school?

Newell Elementary ranks in the bottom 8.6% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Rate Newell 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.