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J C Sawyer Elementary

Q: Is J C Sawyer Elementary a good school?

J C Sawyer Elementary ranks 739 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

739^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

J C Sawyer Elementary serves about 400 students in grades K–5 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and is part of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools district. After ranking in the 8th percentile statewide in 2021–22, the school has made a dramatic climb: it now sits at the 50th percentile with a 3-star rating, ranking 739th of 1,492 elementary schools in 2025–26. This improvement happened while serving a student body in which 99.25% of children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

The school's greatest academic strength is in the early grades. In 2025–26, third-grade reading proficiency hit 71.7%, far exceeding the district average of 53.8% and the state average of 55.6%, and third-grade math reached 73.3%, also above both. Those numbers outpace several nearby schools with very similar demographics, including P W Moore Elementary, where third-grade reading was 44.2% and math was 65.4%. J C Sawyer also earns strong marks for supporting students with disabilities, ranking in the 75th percentile statewide for special education — a 4-star result — and its low-income students perform near the state median despite the school's near-universal poverty rate.

The challenge lies in the upper grades. Fourth-grade reading (45.5%) and fifth-grade reading (41.9%) trail the state by roughly 12–13 points, suggesting the school's early-grade momentum does not fully carry through. Chronic absenteeism has fallen sharply, from 42.9% in 2021–22 to 27.3% in 2024–25, and is now below the district average. Within Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, J C Sawyer is the second-highest-ranked elementary school, behind Weeksville Elementary (81st percentile), and it outperforms nearby P W Moore Elementary across nearly every subject and grade. Weeksville Elementary shows that another school serving a similarly high-poverty population can reach the 81st percentile, indicating real room for continued growth.

400

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1007 Park St
Elizabeth City, NC 27909-6057

(252) 338-1012

District: Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools

Students who attend J C Sawyer Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	River Road Middle
High:	Northeastern High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.0%

White:

26.3%

Hispanic:

16.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare J C Sawyer Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the North Carolina median (50th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg57%

North Carolina avg61%

739^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

125^th of 246Elizabeth City-Pasquotank 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	49.4	739 of 1492	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.1	915 of 1490	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.9	835 of 1505	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.8	1257 of 1502	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	1390 of 1514	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.2	1261 of 1489	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.1	938 of 1473	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.2	1061 of 1434	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.6	1177 of 1429	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.5	1069 of 1425	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	39.0	934 of 1440	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.2	930 of 1390	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.1	899 of 1403	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.9	975 of 1388	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.6	953 of 1381	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	44.6	856 of 1363	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.2	940 of 1354	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.3	800 of 1324	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.5	813 of 1293	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	43.1	823 of 1276	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.6	339 of 903	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.2	391 of 918	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.2	411 of 924	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	23.3	783 of 933	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.9	878 of 927	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.8	778 of 896	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.5	655 of 949	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.3	629 of 927	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	30.9	661 of 878	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.9	808 of 897	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	740 of 1447	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.5	782 of 1451	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.1	886 of 1455	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.5	1245 of 1459	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.7	1349 of 1458	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.3	1163 of 1440	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.9	797 of 1424	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.0	1010 of 1405	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.2	679 of 1434	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.3	1071 of 1437	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.1	778 of 1450	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	16.9	1313 of 1437	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.2	1290 of 1366	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.4	1256 of 1329	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	1080 of 1361	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.4	1188 of 1332	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	731 of 1451	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.7	998 of 1450	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.5	718 of 1464	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	22.5	1186 of 1461	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	1273 of 1464	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	1300 of 1444	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.3	1032 of 1430	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.8	1067 of 1413	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.1	203 of 815	75.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.4	386 of 1146	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.9	600 of 1172	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.9	354 of 1166	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.5	893 of 1183	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.9	833 of 1194	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.7	827 of 1172	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	68.3	341 of 1183	71.2%	★★★★☆
2018	61.8	454 of 1178	61.5%	★★★☆☆

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)75th percentile+25 vs school

White (2026)66th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2026)62nd percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)50th percentile~ school

Female (2026)49th percentile~ school

Disabled (2019)25th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science67%~ state avg

Mathematics63%~ state avg

Reading53%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near J C Sawyer 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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
J C Sawyer Elementary	Public	K-5	1007 Park St	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 338-1012	400	29	13.7	99.3%	105 (26.3%)	192 (48.0%)	67 (16.8%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	28 (7.0%)	49.4	739^th of 1492 public elementary schools	50.5%		40.1	915^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.6%	176	73.3	55.7	62.8	71.7	45.5	41.9	67.4	$10,349	$1,235	$9,114
P W Moore Elementary	Public	K-5	606 Roanoke Ave	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 338-5000	353	26	13.5	99.2%	76 (21.5%)	212 (60.1%)	38 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.6%)	27.7	1147^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.1%		17.8	1318^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.5%	171	65.4	57.3	53.0	44.2	36.0	31.8	53.0	$11,740	$1,429	$10,311
Sheep-Harney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 W Elizabeth St	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-4303	441	27	16.0	99.3%	112 (25.4%)	195 (44.2%)	85 (19.3%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.2%)	46.9	784^th of 1492 public elementary schools	47.5%		39.2	933^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	37.4%	149	46.6	56.9	76.6	50.0	56.9	47.9	72.9	$10,082	$1,732	$8,350
Central Elementary	Public	K-5	1059 US Hwy 17	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-4305	484	28	17.0	98.6%	175 (36.2%)	216 (44.6%)	48 (9.9%)	6 (1.2%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	34 (7.0%)	33.4	1039^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.4%		41	899^th of 1490 public elementary schools	39.7%	140	58.9	51.3	55.4	42.5	53.9	40.0	60.0	$10,026	$1,193	$8,834
Camden Intermediate	Public	3-5	123 Noblitt Drive	Camden	27921	Camden County	Camden County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-7808	461	29	15.9	29.5%	378 (82.0%)	21 (4.6%)	30 (6.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.1%)	64.7	509^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.9%		69.4	404^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.9%	105	88.0	69.3	62.0	65.4	57.2	56.0	68.7	$9,295	$649	$8,646
Grandy Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	175 NC Hwy 343 North	Camden	27921	Camden County	Camden County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 331-4838	415	33	12.4	30.1%	332 (80.0%)	27 (6.5%)	24 (5.8%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	26 (6.3%)								(n/a)								$10,230	$633	$9,597
Northside Elementary	Public	K-5	1062 Northside Rd	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 335-2033	419	32	13.3	99.3%	204 (48.7%)	128 (30.5%)	54 (12.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.4%)	42.6	868^th of 1492 public elementary schools	41.8%		44.2	844^th of 1490 public elementary schools	43.4%	24	53.5	56.1	65.2	42.3	42.1	54.5	75.8	$10,283	$901	$9,382
Weeksville Elementary	Public	K-5	1170 Salem Church Rd	Elizabeth City	27909	Pasquotank County	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 330-2606	304	18	16.8	99.0%	129 (42.4%)	98 (32.2%)	51 (16.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.2%)	76.8	282^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	81.1%		73.5	338^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.3%	56	92.0	55.6	86.1	80.0	54.7	75.0	91.7	$11,385	$1,264	$10,121
Shawboro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	370 Shawboro Road	Shawboro	27973	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 232-2237	625	39	16.0	35.7%	484 (77.4%)	36 (5.8%)	47 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	53 (8.5%)	66.7	474^th of 1492 public elementary schools	68.2%		68.4	420^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.8%	54	82.0	63.5	59.0	65.0	59.1	62.0	77.0	$9,905	$834	$9,070
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	504 Shortcut Road	Barco	27917	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 453-0010	264	16	16.6	44.7%	172 (65.2%)	26 (9.8%)	27 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	37 (14.0%)	40.2	903^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	39.5%		48.3	771^st of 1490 public elementary schools	48.3%	132	63.6	57.1	44.4	59.1	45.7	41.7	66.7	$12,758	$1,371	$11,388

Frequently Asked Questions about J C Sawyer Elementary

What district is J C Sawyer Elementary in?

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of J C Sawyer Elementary?

Students at J C Sawyer Elementary are 48% African American, 26% White, 17% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend J C Sawyer Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 400 students attended J C Sawyer Elementary.

Is J C Sawyer Elementary a good school?

J C Sawyer Elementary ranks 739^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of J C Sawyer Elementary attend?

Students who attend J C Sawyer Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : River Road Middle
High : Northeastern High

Rate J C Sawyer Elementary!

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Schools in Elizabeth City, NC

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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.