Isenberg Elementary

Isenberg Elementary is a PK–5 school in Salisbury, North Carolina, serving 509 students as part of Rowan-Salisbury Schools. The school holds a 1-star rating and sits in the 14th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools statewide. It serves a very high-need population — roughly 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch while nearly 40% are chronically absent, both far above state averages.

Despite the overall rating, Isenberg has genuine bright spots and is one of the stronger elementary options within its immediate Rowan-Salisbury cluster, outperforming Knollwood Elementary, Koontz Elementary, Hurley Elementary, and Overton Elementary. Early-grade academics have improved remarkably: 3rd grade math proficiency jumped from just 11.3% in 2022–2023 to 51.9% in the most recent testing year, and 3rd grade reading, at 45% proficient, led all nearby elementary schools in its district. Science is another recurring strength, with 5th grade science scores consistently beating district averages. Isenberg also does relatively well with English Learner students, who perform at the 43rd percentile statewide compared to ELL students elsewhere, while African American and Hispanic students rank above the school’s overall 14th percentile.

The biggest concerns are upper-grade achievement, attendance, and support for advanced learners. By 5th grade, reading proficiency drops to 28.2% versus a 40.4% district average, and math to 31.8% versus 48.5%. Chronic absenteeism is worsening, climbing from 33.4% to 39.6% in a single year. Gifted students rank at just the 4th percentile, suggesting limited challenge for high-ability learners. Notably, neighboring high-poverty schools in other districts — like Churchland Elementary in Davidson County Schools and Cooleemee Elementary in Davie County Schools — achieve stronger results with far better attendance, illustrating the opportunity Isenberg has to improve by increasing attendance and extending its early-grade gains into 5th grade.