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Southside Ashpole Elementary

Q: Is Southside Ashpole Elementary a good school?

Southside Ashpole Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.4% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Southside Ashpole Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 206 students attended Southside Ashpole Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Southside Ashpole Elementary?

Students at Southside Ashpole Elementary are 45% American Indian, 38% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% White, 4% Hispanic.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1397^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Southside Ashpole Elementary is a small PK–5 school in Rowland, North Carolina, serving 206 students within the Public Schools of Robeson County, a district that ranks in the bottom quarter of North Carolina's districts. The school itself has ranked consistently near the bottom of the state's elementary schools, landing in the 6th percentile statewide with zero stars in the most recent year. Nearly all of its students (96.6%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the very high-poverty community it serves.

Attendance is one of the school's most pressing challenges. Southside's chronic absenteeism rate reached 48.0% in 2024–2025—meaning nearly half of its students missed enough school to be considered chronically absent. That is the highest rate among all nearby comparison schools, including Pembroke Elementary at 45.7% and Fairgrove Elementary at 43.6%. Academically, Southside trails both its district and the state in nearly every grade and subject. The most striking gap is 4th grade math, where only 19.4% of students scored proficient—roughly 27 points below the district and 42 points below the state. Reading proficiency is also weak across every tested grade, with all grades below 35% compared with state averages in the mid- to upper-50s.

These results are not inevitable for a high-poverty school. Just 7.7 miles away, Union Elementary serves an almost identical population—99.2% low-income—yet posts dramatically stronger outcomes, including 66.7% proficiency in 3rd grade reading versus Southside's 34.3%. Old Main STREAM Academy, in the Old Main Stream district, has a 99.3% low-income rate but a chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.9% and ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide. Southside does maintain a low student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1 and posted a solid 5th grade science result (55.6% proficient) in the most recent year. However, the clearest lever for improvement appears to be attendance—cutting into that 48% chronic absenteeism rate would give students the consistency they need to make meaningful academic progress.

206

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

96.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

607 S Martin Luther King St
Rowland, NC 28383

(910) 422-3791

District: Public Schools of Robeson County

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:

44.7%

African American:

37.9%

Two or more races:

8.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Southside Ashpole Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2023 → 6th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (37% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (48% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg46%

North Carolina avg61%

1,397^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▲ up 2 pts since 2023

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

190^th of 246Public Schools of Robeson County 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	12.0	1397 of 1492	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.8	1444 of 1490	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.3	1408 of 1505	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.4	1438 of 1502	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	11.9	880 of 918	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	28.3	727 of 924	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.4	838 of 933	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.0	1214 of 1447	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	6.2	1427 of 1451	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.2	1338 of 1455	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	1336 of 1459	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.4	1272 of 1434	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.7	1332 of 1437	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.4	1350 of 1450	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.6	1350 of 1437	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	7.7	1414 of 1451	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.5	1303 of 1450	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	1392 of 1464	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.5	1403 of 1461	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	5.7	29 of 29	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	24 of 30	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)16th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)11th percentile+5 vs school

African American (2025)4th percentile~ school

Male (2026)3rd percentile-4 vs school

Native American (2026)<1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science56%-12 vs state

Mathematics35%-28 vs state

Reading33%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southside Ashpole 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
Southside Ashpole Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	607 S Martin Luther King St	Rowland	28383	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(910) 422-3791	206	16	12.6	96.6%	9 (4.4%)	78 (37.9%)	9 (4.4%)	1 (0.5%)	92 (44.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.3%)	12	1397^th of 1492 public elementary schools	6.4%		7.8	1444^th of 1490 public elementary schools	3.1%	47	40.0	19.4	48.1				34.3	32.3	33.3				55.6
Fairgrove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1953 Fairgrove School Road	Fairmont	28340	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 628-8290	291	20	14.5	98.6%	31 (10.7%)	63 (21.6%)	28 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	133 (45.7%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (12.4%)	30	1095^th of 1492 public elementary schools	26.6%		15.1	1349^th of 1490 public elementary schools	9.5%	254	49.0	49.0	62.8				30.6	41.2	44.2				71.4		$11,464	$1,935	$9,529
Union Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2547 NC Hwy 710 South	Rowland	28383	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 521-4272	351	22	15.7	99.1%	9 (2.6%)	11 (3.1%)	18 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	295 (84.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.1%)	62.2	545^th of 1492 public elementary schools	63.5%		56	636^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.3%	91	64.6	67.4	73.5	77.8			66.7	46.5	49.0	52.8			81.6		$9,927	$1,943	$7,984
Rosenwald Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	301 Martin L King Dr	Fairmont	28340	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 628-4291	343	21	16.0	99.1%	34 (9.9%)	172 (50.1%)	25 (7.3%)	4 (1.2%)	72 (21.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (10.5%)	7.5	1447^th of 1492 public elementary schools	3.0%		5.8	1463^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	1.8%	16	45.5	31.1					31.8	27.0							$11,487	$2,147	$9,339
Deep Branch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4045 Deep Branch Road	Lumberton	28360	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 738-2514	374	24	15.8	99.2%	11 (2.9%)	25 (6.7%)	32 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	284 (75.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.9%)	25.3	1178^th of 1492 public elementary schools	21.0%		19.2	1291^st of 1490 public elementary schools	13.4%	113	67.8	50.0	44.4	51.6			39.7	39.5	36.5	54.8			30.2		$10,490	$1,754	$8,735
Pembroke Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	505 South Jones Street	Pembroke	28372	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 521-4204	703	44	15.8	99.6%	24 (3.4%)	40 (5.7%)	31 (4.4%)	3 (0.4%)	559 (79.5%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.5%)	39.6	914^th of 1492 public elementary schools	38.7%		28.2	1115^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.2%	201	61.0	55.0	58.1				48.8	50.5	45.3				64.2		$9,720	$1,679	$8,041
Old Main STREAM Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	200 North Odum Street	Pembroke	28372	Robeson County	Old Main Stream	Yes	No	No	No	(910) 775-9191	437	32	13.5	99.3%	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.5%)	1 (0.2%)	373 (85.4%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.5%)	78.3	266^th of 1492 public elementary schools	82.2%		70	395^th of 1490 public elementary schools	73.5%	129	87.0	72.9	72.9	75.5	80.4	75.6	68.1	70.8	54.2	61.2	56.5	65.9	83.3	85.4
Townsend Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	105 Carolina Street	Maxton	28364	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 844-5086	280	17	16.1	98.9%	8 (2.9%)	157 (56.1%)	19 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (30.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.3%)	27.3	1154^th of 1492 public elementary schools	22.7%		7.3	1447^th of 1490 public elementary schools	2.9%	293	81.8	23.1	14.7				65.9	23.1	17.6				17.6		$12,374	$1,964	$10,410
Prospect Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4024 Missouri Road	Maxton	28364	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 521-4766	775	52	14.9	99.6%	17 (2.2%)	14 (1.8%)	14 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	704 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.4%)	41.2	892^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	40.2%		40.7	905^th of 1490 public elementary schools	39.3%	13	70.3	48.8	64.1	53.5	62.8	77.8	44.0	43.9	42.3	54.9	58.5	62.2	66.7	78.9	$9,609	$1,583	$8,026
Union Chapel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4271 Union Chapel Road	Pembroke	28372	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 521-4456	442	29	15.0	99.3%	10 (2.3%)	20 (4.5%)	134 (30.3%)	0 (0.0%)	266 (60.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	24.9	1194^th of 1492 public elementary schools	20.0%		26.2	1151^st of 1490 public elementary schools	22.8%	43	47.4	49.2	51.9	60.0			30.8	47.7	44.4	39.2			50.9		$9,976	$1,620	$8,356

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Ashpole Elementary

How many students attend Southside Ashpole Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 206 students attended Southside Ashpole Elementary.

What district is Southside Ashpole Elementary in?

Public Schools of Robeson County

Is Southside Ashpole Elementary a good school?

Southside Ashpole Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.4% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Southside Ashpole Elementary?

Students at Southside Ashpole Elementary are 45% American Indian, 38% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% White, 4% Hispanic.

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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.