Wendell Elementary

Wendell Elementary is a K-5 public school in Wendell, NC, serving 458 students in the Wake County Schools district. The school has shown steady improvement over the past several years, climbing from the 16th percentile statewide in 2022-23 to the 28th percentile in 2025-26 (1,074 out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools), but it still remains well below district and state averages in most subjects.

In the most recent testing year, Wendell Elementary trailed the Wake County district average in every subject and grade level tested. The widest gaps appear in the upper grades, with 5th-grade math proficiency at 46.8% (compared to the district's 71.7%) and 5th-grade reading at 41.6% (compared to 66.0%). Science is another concern: only 50.6% of 5th graders were proficient, versus 73.5% districtwide. There are some bright spots worth noting. Fourth-grade reading proficiency reached 59.2%, above the state average of 57.7%, and chronic absenteeism has fallen sharply to 21.3%, essentially matching the district average of 20.5% and below the state's 24.2%. The school's student-teacher ratio of 12.6 is also relatively favorable compared to nearby schools.

Perhaps the most useful context for parents comes from neighboring schools serving similar populations. Carver Elementary, less than a mile away with comparable demographics, ranked in the 54th percentile statewide and outperformed Wendell in every tested subject — including a striking 78.7% proficiency in 5th-grade science versus Wendell's 50.6%. Wakelon Elementary, about 5 miles away with a nearly identical free/reduced-price lunch rate, ranked in the 67th percentile. Even more notably, Riverwood Elementary in Johnston County Public Schools ranks in the 93rd percentile despite serving a very high-poverty population. These comparisons show that strong academic outcomes are achievable for schools with similar demographics, and they highlight the opportunity ahead for Wendell Elementary as it continues its upward trajectory.