Lincoln Elementary

Lincoln Elementary is a small public school in rural Ruffin, NC, serving 303 students in grades PK-5 as part of Rockingham County Schools — and despite 94.4% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, it has become the district's standout elementary school, climbing from the 20th percentile in state rankings a decade ago to the 60th–73rd percentile in recent years.

Lincoln's academic strengths shine brightest in the upper grades and in science. Fifth grade science proficiency has exceeded the state average by 18 to 29 percentage points for four consecutive years, reaching 85.1% in 2025-2026 compared to 67.7% statewide. Fifth grade math hit 80.9% proficiency — more than 20 points above the district average — and 4th grade math similarly outpaced both district and state averages. The nearest comparable schools, Wentworth Elementary and Douglass Elementary, rank well behind Lincoln overall, while schools just a few miles away, such as Stoneville Elementary and Moss Street Elementary, sit far lower in statewide percentile rankings. Most notably, Lincoln's low-income students ranked in the 89th percentile among their peers statewide in 2024-2025 — a remarkable outcome for a school where poverty is nearly universal.

Attendance is another area where Lincoln gains an edge. Chronic absenteeism is 23.8%, closely matching the state average of 24.2% and well below Central Elementary at 35.1%, Leaksville-Spray Elementary at 33.6%, and Moss Street Elementary's 47.9%. The main area for improvement is 3rd grade reading, where proficiency has consistently trailed the state average. Yet the same students' reading proficiency climbs to 61.7% by 5th grade, showing that children who remain at Lincoln make significant progress as they move through the school. For parents considering Lincoln, the picture is clear: a high-poverty school producing science and upper-grade results that rival — and often beat — schools with far more resources.