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Polk Central Elementary School

Q: Is Polk Central Elementary School a good school?

Polk Central Elementary School ranks 570 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

570^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 62% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Polk Central Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Mill Spring, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 382 students. The school is part of the Polk County Schools district, which is ranked 41 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Polk Central Elementary consistently performs above the state average in mathematics, reading, and science proficiency across grades 3-5, ranking in the top 20% of North Carolina elementary schools in several years, including a #101 ranking out of 1,434 schools in 2017-2018. The school's performance is generally stronger than the other schools in the immediate vicinity, such as Saluda Elementary and Tryon Elementary, which are also part of the Polk County Schools district. However, when compared to schools in the neighboring Rutherford County and Henderson County districts, Polk Central's performance is more mixed, with some schools outperforming it in certain subject areas and grade levels.

Polk Central Elementary has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, with over 99% of students falling into this category in recent years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.3 to 13.6 students per teacher in recent years, which is lower than many of the nearby schools. While the school's Hispanic and disabled student subgroups have consistently performed at a high level, the White student subgroup and gifted and talented student subgroup have struggled, ranking in the bottom half of the state in recent years.

379

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,367

Per pupil spending ?

99.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2141 South NC9 Hwy
Mill Spring, NC 28756-9771

(828) 894-8233

District: Polk County Schools

Students who attend Polk Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Polk County Middle School
High:	Polk County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.9%

Hispanic:

10.3%

African American:

5.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Polk Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2015 → 62nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 32 percentile points since 2015

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

!Near the bottom of Polk County Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school60%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg57%

570^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 32 pts since 2015

From top 6% (2015) to top 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Elementary Schools in the Polk County Schools

41^st of 242Polk 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
2025	59.6	570 of 1490	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.3	521 of 1505	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	85.9	151 of 1502	89.9%	★★★★★
2022	78.4	265 of 1514	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	87.8	156 of 1489	89.5%	★★★★☆
2019	82.4	203 of 1473	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	89.4	101 of 1434	93.0%	★★★★★
2017	84.8	151 of 1429	89.4%	★★★★☆
2016	88.1	113 of 1425	92.1%	★★★★★
2015	89.9	85 of 1440	94.1%	★★★★★
2014	74.9	315 of 1390	77.3%	★★★★☆
2013	62.6	479 of 1403	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	77.9	247 of 1388	82.2%	★★★★☆
2011	81.8	169 of 1381	87.8%	★★★★☆
2010	80.8	180 of 1363	86.8%	★★★★☆
2009	84.4	136 of 1354	90.0%	★★★★★
2008	68.7	376 of 1324	71.6%	★★★★☆
2007	53.7	675 of 1293	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.7	511 of 1276	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	80.3	59 of 646	90.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	64.0	468 of 1451	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	449 of 1455	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	86.2	136 of 1459	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	76.0	283 of 1458	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	86.9	135 of 1440	90.6%	★★★★★
2019	73.3	327 of 1424	77.0%	★★★★☆
2018	81.6	193 of 1405	86.3%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	38.6	604 of 710	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.0	367 of 669	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	68.1	100 of 582	82.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.6	210 of 494	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	84.8	84 of 951	91.2%	★★★★★
2022	95.3	20 of 893	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	87.9	46 of 865	94.7%	★★★★★
2018	85.8	60 of 851	92.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.4	678 of 1437	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.2	477 of 1450	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	90.4	49 of 1437	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	71.6	261 of 1366	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	91.2	48 of 1329	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	88.8	64 of 1361	95.3%	★★★★★
2018	91.9	35 of 1332	97.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.2	681 of 1450	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.9	586 of 1464	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.7	205 of 1461	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	78.1	260 of 1464	82.2%	★★★★☆
2021	84.1	181 of 1444	87.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.8	137 of 1430	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	92.8	47 of 1413	96.7%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	57.4	245 of 821	70.2%	★★★★☆
2024	30.1	601 of 801	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.0	670 of 1172	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.8	692 of 1166	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	73.9	266 of 1183	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	60.9	433 of 1194	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.0	170 of 1172	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	72.4	283 of 1183	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	82.4	153 of 1178	87.0%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)91st percentile+26 vs school

Disabled (2021)91st percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)70th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)68th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)53rd percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)53rd percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)43rd percentile-19 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)15th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics67%+6 vs state

Science59%-3 vs state

Reading54%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Polk Central Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Polk Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2141 South NC9 Hwy	Mill Spring	28756	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 894-8233	379	24	15.9	99.2%	299 (78.9%)	20 (5.3%)	39 (10.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	59.6	570^th of 1490 public elementary schools	61.7%		63.3	521^st of 1505 public elementary schools	65.4%	49	66.7	67.3	66.7	43.9	69.2	49.0	58.8	$12,367	$1,550	$10,818
Sunny View Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	86 Sunny View School Road	Mill Spring	28756	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 894-1050	120	10	11.8	97.5%	115 (95.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	60.3	562^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	62.3%		70	401^st of 1505 public elementary schools	73.4%	161	83.3	75.0	53.8	55.6	68.8	50.0	53.8	$15,864	$1,636	$14,228
Tryon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 School Place	Tryon	28782	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 859-6584	367	27	13.7	99.2%	238 (64.9%)	36 (9.8%)	64 (17.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	66.1	465^th of 1490 public elementary schools	68.8%		76.1	308^th of 1505 public elementary schools	79.5%	157	79.3	70.8	60.7	55.2	64.6	57.1	55.4	$12,033	$1,081	$10,952
Rutherfordton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Bob Hardin Road	Rutherfordton	28139	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 287-3778	397	24	16.4	95.2%	279 (70.3%)	34 (8.6%)	38 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (11.6%)	74.7	320^th of 1490 public elementary schools	78.5%		61.3	555^th of 1505 public elementary schools	63.1%	235	87.1	80.6	63.1	61.3	77.4	60.0	54.5	$10,825	$1,582	$9,243
Spindale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	161 N Oak St	Spindale	28160	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 286-2861	337	20	16.4	95.3%	168 (49.9%)	96 (28.5%)	39 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (10.1%)	32.8	1040^th of 1490 public elementary schools	30.2%		40.7	919^th of 1505 public elementary schools	38.9%	121	67.4	45.3	56.9	46.5	38.5	40.4	37.9	$10,759	$1,904	$8,854
Saluda Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	214 E Main Street	Saluda	28773	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 894-1040	142	14	10.3	97.9%	125 (88.0%)	2 (1.4%)	10 (7.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.8%)	91.2	92^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	93.8%		91.7	91^st of 1505 public elementary schools	94.0%	1	95.6	76.9	94.4	78.3	61.5	94.4	77.8	$13,956	$1,586	$12,371
Harris Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3330 US 221 S Hwy	Forest City	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 248-2354	434	27	16.1	95.9%	367 (84.6%)	5 (1.2%)	37 (8.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.3%)	80.1	242^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	83.8%		80.6	232^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	84.6%	10	80.8	78.3	65.5	60.3	75.4	65.5	67.2	$9,551	$1,364	$8,186
Pinnacle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1204 Painters Gap Road	Rutherfordton	28139	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 287-3440	254	16	16.0	96.5%	209 (82.3%)	14 (5.5%)	22 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.5%)	61.5	539^th of 1490 public elementary schools	63.8%		61.4	554^th of 1505 public elementary schools	63.2%	15	84.8	61.5	53.7	57.6	53.8	58.5	63.4	$11,086	$1,573	$9,513
Dana Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	690 Ridge Road	Hendersonville	28792	Henderson County	Henderson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 685-7743	403	30	13.6	99.3%	157 (39.0%)	4 (1.0%)	227 (56.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	13 (3.2%)	10.2	1419^th of 1490 public elementary schools	4.8%		23.7	1219^th of 1505 public elementary schools	19.0%	200	28.8	43.2	23.1	21.2	47.3	9.2	18.8	$10,155	$1,652	$8,503
Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2785 Hudlow Road	Forest City	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 287-4792	231	13	17.6	98.7%	182 (78.8%)	8 (3.5%)	15 (6.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (10.8%)	56.7	616^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.7%		61.9	545^th of 1505 public elementary schools	63.8%	71	78.4	46.2	67.6	37.8	53.8	51.4	83.8	$11,338	$1,542	$9,796

Frequently Asked Questions about Polk Central Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Polk Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Polk Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Polk County Middle School
High : Polk County High School

How many students attend Polk Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 379 students attended Polk Central Elementary School.

Is Polk Central Elementary School a good school?

Polk Central Elementary School ranks 570^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Polk Central Elementary School in?

Polk County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Polk Central Elementary School?

Students at Polk Central Elementary School are 79% White, 10% Hispanic, 5% African American, 5% Two or more races.

Rate Polk Central Elementary School!

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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.