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South Lakes Elementary

Q: Is South Lakes Elementary a good school?

South Lakes Elementary ranks 260 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

260^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

South Lakes Elementary is a large public elementary school in Fuquay Varina, NC, serving 774 students in grades PK–5 as part of Wake County Schools. The school has climbed steadily in statewide rankings, from the 67th percentile in 2020–2021 to the 83rd percentile in 2025–2026, ranking 260th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating. It serves a comparatively low-poverty population: just 25.45% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a lower rate than every nearby Wake County elementary school, including Fuquay-Varina Elementary (35.88%) and Banks Road Elementary (45.78%). Chronic absenteeism is also a bright spot, at 14.5% — well below the district average of 20.5% and the state average of 24.2%.

Academically, the school scores at or above district averages in nearly every tested subject and grade. It is especially strong in 5th-grade science, where 78.3% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, well above the state average of 67.7%. Upper-elementary reading and math are also solid: 5th-grade reading (68.7% proficient) outpaces nearby schools like Lincoln Heights Elementary (60.4%) and Fuquay-Varina Elementary (63.1%). Perhaps most striking is the school’s support for English Language Learner students: it ranks 6th out of 519 schools statewide for ELL performance, in the 99th percentile with a 5-star rating — a dramatic rise from the 60th percentile just two years earlier.

Results are not evenly distributed across every group, however. Economically disadvantaged students, special education students, and gifted learners at the school rank below their peers statewide (41st, 33rd, and 42nd percentiles, respectively, in 2025–2026), suggesting these students may need additional support. In the broader Fuquay Varina area, South Lakes ranks above Willow Springs Elementary, Lincoln Heights Elementary, Banks Road Elementary, and Fuquay-Varina Elementary, and far above nearby charter options like Achievement Charter Academy and Carolina Charter Academy. Two neighbors — Ballentine Elementary and Herbert Akins Rd Elementary — post slightly higher overall rankings. Still, with a 4-star rating, an improving trajectory, and standout ELL and science programs, South Lakes is a strong choice for families in the Fuquay Varina area.

774

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

25.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1449 Old Honeycutt Road
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

(919) 694-8066

District: Wake County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.0%

Asian:

19.8%

African American:

14.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare South Lakes Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2021 → 83rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (72% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg70%

North Carolina avg61%

260^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▲ up 15 pts since 2021

From top 33% (2021) to top 17% (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	78.5	260 of 1492	82.6%	★★★★☆
2025	71.9	365 of 1490	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	268 of 1505	82.2%	★★★★☆
2023	73.1	358 of 1502	76.2%	★★★★☆
2022	66.2	474 of 1514	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.8	486 of 1489	67.4%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.9	223 of 903	75.3%	★★★★☆
2025	60.3	282 of 918	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.5	138 of 924	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	57.9	331 of 933	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	82.9	78 of 927	91.6%	★★★★★
2021	69.7	151 of 896	83.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.3	71 of 134	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.9	74 of 131	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.3	71 of 130	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.6	76 of 114	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	42.1	318 of 634	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.3	281 of 646	56.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	97.7	6 of 519	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	50.6	215 of 533	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.2	88 of 514	82.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	77.9	252 of 1447	82.6%	★★★★☆
2025	70.8	359 of 1451	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.1	153 of 1455	89.5%	★★★★☆
2023	76.6	270 of 1459	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	70.6	364 of 1458	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	60.9	514 of 1440	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.7	429 of 743	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.3	574 of 710	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.6	362 of 669	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.0	473 of 582	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.3	293 of 500	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.5	263 of 981	73.2%	★★★★☆
2025	61.8	301 of 961	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.6	372 of 951	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.8	304 of 915	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.3	323 of 893	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.1	317 of 843	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.4	848 of 1434	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.1	691 of 1437	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.8	463 of 1450	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.1	663 of 1437	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.1	732 of 1366	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	735 of 1329	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	293 of 1451	79.8%	★★★★☆
2025	69.1	396 of 1450	72.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.4	426 of 1464	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	65.9	450 of 1461	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.3	592 of 1464	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	455 of 1444	68.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.0	547 of 815	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.2	587 of 821	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.7	311 of 801	61.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.8	442 of 1146	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.1	586 of 1172	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.0	353 of 1166	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.4	471 of 1183	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.6	660 of 1194	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.3	500 of 1172	57.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)99th percentile+16 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)80th percentile-3 vs school

African American (2026)75th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)61st percentile-21 vs school

Disabled (2022)50th percentile-19 vs school

Asian (2026)47th percentile-36 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)42nd percentile-40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)41st percentile-42 vs school

Special Education (2026)33rd percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science78%+11 vs state

Mathematics74%+11 vs state

Reading69%+13 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Lakes 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
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		93.8%	4.7%	$9,222	$529	$8,694
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		94.8%	3.1%	$9,010	$382	$8,627
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		98.3%	1.7%	$10,151	$476	$9,675
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
Carolina Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	8529 NC Highway 55	Angier	27501	Harnett County	Carolina Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(984) 300-3015	782	49	15.9	—	403 (51.5%)	80 (10.2%)	136 (17.4%)	103 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (7.7%)	64.8	508^th of 1492 public elementary schools	66.0%		60.5	556^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.7%	48	62.5	73.7	62.4	53.4	69.2	70.0	64.8	75.8	64.4	56.8	61.5	78.3	70.3	91.7
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		91.5%	4.2%	$13,231	$2,042	$11,189
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		98%	1%	$9,294	$381	$8,914
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		94.7%	0.9%	$9,017	$332	$8,685
Achievement Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	25 Buttonwood Ct.	Fuquay Varina	27526	Wake County	Achievement Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 552-5446	211	14	15.2	—	114 (54.0%)	43 (20.4%)	25 (11.8%)	5 (2.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.9%)	27.9	1139^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.7%		12.1	1390^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.7%	251	78.6	40.7	50.0	27.8			46.4	40.7	44.0	33.3			52.0		77.8%	14.8%

Frequently Asked Questions about South Lakes Elementary

What district is South Lakes Elementary in?

Wake County Schools

How many students attend South Lakes Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 774 students attended South Lakes Elementary.

Is South Lakes Elementary a good school?

South Lakes Elementary ranks 260^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of South Lakes Elementary?

Students at South Lakes Elementary are 49% White, 20% Asian, 14% African American, 12% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Rate South Lakes Elementary!

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Schools in Fuquay Varina, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.