Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its North Carolina rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Ballentine Elementary

Q: Is Ballentine Elementary a good school?

Ballentine Elementary ranks 178 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

178^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Ballentine Elementary is a PK-5 school in Fuquay-Varina, NC, serving 742 students in the Wake County Schools district, and it ranks among the strongest elementary schools in the area. In the most recent state ratings, Ballentine placed 178th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools—the 88th percentile, earning a 4-star rating. That puts the school comfortably ahead of most nearby options, including Fuquay-Varina Elementary, Middle Creek Elementary, and Banks Road Elementary, all of which rank significantly lower. Only Holly Ridge Elementary posts a higher statewide rank in the immediate area.

Academically, Ballentine consistently outperforms both its district and state averages across math, reading, and science at every grade level. For example, 80.2% of 5th graders scored proficient in math and 82.4% in science, compared to district averages of 71.7% and 73.5%. Reading proficiency in 3rd and 4th grades is especially strong, with scores roughly 10 points above the district average. Attendance is another standout: the school's chronic absenteeism rate is just 10.9%, less than half the state average of 24.2%. The school has also shown steady improvement over the past decade, climbing from a mid-tier ranking in 2015 to a top-12% school today, with minimal decline in the latest year.

The school's most distinctive strength is its work with special education students, ranking in the 93rd–94th percentile statewide—among the very best in North Carolina for that population. Female, male, and White student subgroups all perform in the mid-to-high 80th percentiles, and African American students have improved significantly in recent years. However, there is room for growth in 5th-grade reading, which lags behind the school's own math scores as well as Holly Ridge's reading performance. Hispanic, English language learner, and economically disadvantaged students have not yet matched the school's overall high level of success, and these are the areas where additional support appears most needed. Overall, Ballentine is a strong, improving school with excellent attendance and exceptional outcomes for special education students.

742

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

28.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1651 North McLaurin Lane
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

(919) 557-1120

District: Wake County Schools

Students who attend Ballentine Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Holly Grove Middle
High:	Fuquay-Varina High
	Wake Early College of Health and Science
	Wake STEM Early College High School
	Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
	More...
	Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.4%

Hispanic:

20.9%

African American:

7.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Ballentine Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (77% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school77%

District avg70%

North Carolina avg61%

178^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 16 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

60^th of 246Wake 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
2026	85.2	178 of 1492	88.1%	★★★★☆
2025	86.8	148 of 1490	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	86.2	165 of 1505	89.0%	★★★★☆
2023	83.1	195 of 1502	87.0%	★★★★☆
2022	83.1	206 of 1514	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	81.1	229 of 1489	84.6%	★★★★☆
2019	62.5	534 of 1473	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.5	392 of 1434	72.7%	★★★★☆
2017	74.6	331 of 1429	76.8%	★★★★☆
2016	70.1	391 of 1425	72.6%	★★★★☆
2015	73.2	358 of 1440	75.1%	★★★★☆
2014	69.6	400 of 1390	71.2%	★★★★☆
2013	82.8	192 of 1403	86.3%	★★★★☆
2012	69.1	425 of 1388	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.7	456 of 1381	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.1	572 of 1363	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	72.5	346 of 1354	74.4%	★★★★☆
2008	77.2	240 of 1324	81.9%	★★★★☆
2007	78.2	199 of 1293	84.6%	★★★★☆
2006	70.6	329 of 1276	74.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	73.6	156 of 924	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	71.1	192 of 933	79.4%	★★★★☆
2022	60.6	282 of 927	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	81.4	47 of 634	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	39.6	533 of 878	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.6	262 of 519	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.4	278 of 563	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.7	158 of 533	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	40.5	290 of 514	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.3	208 of 485	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.5	248 of 385	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	17.1	479 of 497	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.8	363 of 421	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.3	191 of 1447	86.8%	★★★★☆
2025	83.8	170 of 1451	88.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	143 of 1455	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	78.2	242 of 1459	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	214 of 1458	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	77.5	263 of 1440	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	64.7	475 of 1424	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.7	416 of 1405	70.4%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.8	321 of 743	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.6	419 of 710	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.4	280 of 669	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.1	303 of 582	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	66.7	163 of 494	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.6	299 of 612	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.7	632 of 981	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.7	406 of 961	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.6	473 of 951	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.7	426 of 915	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.9	275 of 893	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.9	422 of 843	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	21.6	771 of 865	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.2	745 of 851	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.4	536 of 1434	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.3	777 of 1437	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.6	428 of 1450	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	50.6	704 of 1437	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.6	720 of 1366	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.8	1167 of 1329	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.6	1210 of 1361	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.5	1030 of 1332	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.1	195 of 1451	86.6%	★★★★☆
2025	86.3	149 of 1450	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.8	178 of 1464	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	84.0	168 of 1461	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	82.1	197 of 1464	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	81.2	214 of 1444	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	59.1	568 of 1430	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.4	378 of 1413	73.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.3	55 of 815	93.3%	★★★★★
2025	84.7	53 of 821	93.5%	★★★★★
2024	73.6	106 of 801	86.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.5	155 of 1146	86.5%	★★★★☆
2025	84.2	137 of 1172	88.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.1	118 of 1166	89.9%	★★★★☆
2023	83.1	144 of 1183	87.8%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	185 of 1194	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	81.7	163 of 1172	86.1%	★★★★☆
2019	73.7	266 of 1183	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	82.0	158 of 1178	86.6%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2026)93rd percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2022)93rd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)87th percentile~ school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

White (2026)86th percentile~ school

African American (2024)83rd percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)63rd percentile-25 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)57th percentile-31 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)50th percentile-39 vs school

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science82%+15 vs state

Mathematics78%+15 vs state

Reading73%+17 vs state

2.3

9 ratings · 8 written reviews

5★2

4★1

3★0

2★1

1★5

Rate Ballentine Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Great school! Great Teachers! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, June 8, 2019

Leadership is terrible. No sense of moral or community. My child is not receiving the same education as she did at another school before being rezoned. WCPSS needs to look into the reasons why #'s are so low and why so many families chose to go elsewhere. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, June 19, 2018

We are pulling our child out of this school after a year of horror. We are also seeking legal consultation after our child was ostracized, out-casted and labeled by a first grade teacher who needs to lose all rights of teaching. Many people in the community will learn more about the experience we had. We are parents who will fight for not only our child but, to ensure this does not happen to another child. We wish we would have never trusted this school with our child. Horrible school, cliquish parents and racist administration. The superintendent and school board are aware...... Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 11, 2017

Military like atmosphere is accurate. Not a good place for school aged children. Very unimpressed with the principal. It is time for the board to make some changes. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 11, 2017

teachers bully the children and antagonize them to act out. one case told students that if they couldnt learn something they were mentally disabled. THe bullying form teachers and lack of concern or action from admin shows in thier falling test scores, and lack of registrations. In an overcrowded system, this school actually had a track taken away! after speaking to other parents, found one moved her children due to test score manipulations and unproffesional behavior. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, May 2, 2017

The principal is the main reason this school's enrollment has declined since she was hired. It has been like a mass exodus. She just does not seem to care about anything the parents have to say. She does a fabulous job of protecting a select few teachers to the point of it being almost criminal what they get away with. Those of us in this community with similar aged children, just give up with her and are and have moved our kids elsewhere. This principal and her 'gang' of favored teachers are like a brick wall. You will NOT be heard and your certainly will be dismissed very bluntly. No emotion. Like a robot. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, October 16, 2015

I am not sure what the other reviewer is talking about. I have found the teachers to be very helpful, upbeat and compassionate. It is a small school, so we don't have all the resources other schools have, but the teachers seem to collaborate often to find the best solutions to problems. Issues around testing and conforming are a problem that can only be addressed by changing the county's obsession with rankings and results, I don't think that is a principal mandate. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Principal does not allow teachers to think outside the box. It is her way or no way. School is run like a military base instead of an elementary school. You rarely ever see teachers smiling. Very gloomy place to be. Close Quote

Schools Near Ballentine Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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 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
Ballentine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1651 North McLaurin Lane	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 557-1120	742	53	14.0	28.6%	463 (62.4%)	52 (7.0%)	155 (20.9%)	44 (5.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.6%)	85.2	178^th of 1492 public elementary schools	88.1%		86.8	148^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.1%	30	78.0	76.1	80.2	75.4	77.1	68.7	82.4	$10,151	$476	$9,675
Fuquay-Varina Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6600 Johnson Pond Rd	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 557-2566	772	51	15.2	35.9%	379 (49.1%)	123 (15.9%)	111 (14.4%)	100 (13.0%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (7.1%)	74	338^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.3%		68.5	415^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.1%	77	82.2	67.0	69.4	70.1	63.7	63.1	74.8	$9,010	$382	$8,627
Herbert Akins Rd Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2255 Herbert Akins Rd	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 567-4100	988	69	14.3	32.0%	598 (60.5%)	144 (14.6%)	117 (11.8%)	63 (6.4%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (6.0%)	80.7	235^th of 1492 public elementary schools	84.2%		77.8	282^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	81.1%	47	82.0	72.4	76.3	73.4	70.1	69.1	74.1	$9,017	$332	$8,685
South Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1449 Old Honeycutt Road	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8066	774	52	14.9	25.5%	379 (49.0%)	109 (14.1%)	96 (12.4%)	153 (19.8%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (3.7%)	78.5	260^th of 1492 public elementary schools	82.6%		71.9	365^th of 1490 public elementary schools	75.5%	105	72.7	75.0	74.8	66.4	71.7	68.7	78.3
Lincoln Heights Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	307 Bridge St	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 557-2587	667	45	14.7	35.8%	393 (58.9%)	103 (15.4%)	93 (13.9%)	51 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	25 (3.7%)	74.1	336^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.5%		73.7	336^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.4%		70.9	72.1	68.3	67.4	71.2	60.4	80.2	$13,231	$2,042	$11,189
Willow Springs Elementary	Public	K-5	6800 Dwight Rowland Rd	Willow Spring	27592	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 557-2770	826	59	14.0	30.8%	486 (58.8%)	66 (8.0%)	161 (19.5%)	64 (7.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.6%)	76.1	299^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.0%		85.3	167^th of 1490 public elementary schools	88.8%	132	75.2	75.8	75.5	64.3	70.8	64.7	71.2	$9,222	$529	$8,694
West Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4500 West Lake Rd	Apex	27539	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 662-2300	581	39	15.0	32.0%	369 (63.5%)	38 (6.5%)	117 (20.1%)	26 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.3%)	72.8	364^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.6%		74.7	319^th of 1490 public elementary schools	78.6%	45	91.4	64.4	70.2	78.5	61.1	64.0	68.4	$9,343	$437	$8,905
Banks Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10225 Chambers Rd	Raleigh	27603	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 890-7333	651	47	13.8	45.8%	299 (45.9%)	97 (14.9%)	186 (28.6%)	35 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (4.9%)	60.9	566^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.1%		54.9	656^th of 1490 public elementary schools	56.0%	90	72.8	66.1	59.6	58.3	66.1	56.4	64.9	$9,294	$381	$8,914
Bowling Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1155 Bowling Road	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(919) 431-7400	0																		(n/a)	62.8	50.6	63.5	56.9	43.2	52.7	75.7
Holly Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Holly Springs Road	Holly Springs	27540	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 577-1300	735	50	14.5	18.1%	515 (70.1%)	84 (11.4%)	58 (7.9%)	43 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.8%)	92.8	74^th of 1492 public elementary schools	95.0%		91.6	87^th of 1490 public elementary schools	94.2%	13	84.1	83.2	86.8	84.1	78.2	80.6	91.5	$9,223	$783	$8,440

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballentine Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ballentine Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ballentine Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Holly Grove Middle
High : Fuquay-Varina High
High : Wake Early College of Health and Science
High : Wake STEM Early College High School
High : Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
High : Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy

How many students attend Ballentine Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 742 students attended Ballentine Elementary.

Is Ballentine Elementary a good school?

Ballentine Elementary ranks 178^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Ballentine Elementary in?

Wake County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Ballentine Elementary?

Students at Ballentine Elementary are 62% White, 21% Hispanic, 7% African American, 6% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Rate Ballentine Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina Elementary School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Fuquay Varina, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Ballentine Elementary!

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.