Lee Woodard Elementary

Lee Woodard Elementary is a small K-5 school in Black Creek, NC, serving 173 students as part of Wilson County Schools, where nearly all students (97.1%) qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has shown remarkable upward momentum over the past decade, climbing from a 1-star rating in 2015-16 to a 3-star rating for four consecutive years, and now ranks 528th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools (65th percentile). Per-student spending is $11,686, and the student-teacher ratio is 17.3.

Lee Woodard's greatest strength is its performance with economically disadvantaged students. It ranks in the 92nd percentile statewide for low-SES student performance (111th out of 1,434 schools, 5 stars)—an exceptional result for a school where virtually every child qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Math and science outcomes are particularly strong: about 71% of students in grades 3–5 are proficient in math, and 5th-grade math proficiency reaches 88.9%, well above state (62.9%) and district (70.6%) averages. These results outpace many nearby schools serving similar populations, including Vick Elementary (ranked 1,431st) and Margaret Hearne Elementary (ranked 1,233rd), even while spending less per student and maintaining larger class sizes than those schools.

Reading performance, however, is less consistent. While 4th-grade reading proficiency is strong at 73.1%, 5th-grade reading drops to 48.1%—below the state average of 55.3% and district average of 58.9%—creating a striking gap between 5th-grade math and reading that may reflect cohort differences or an area needing attention. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism has fallen sharply from 32.5% in 2021-22 to 20.3% in 2024-25, now below both district and state averages. Lee Woodard still trails its district's top performer, Lucama Elementary (ranked 89th statewide), but its steady improvement, strong attendance, and outstanding results for low-income students make it one of the more promising schools in Wilson County Schools.