Summary
Rock Ridge Elementary is a K–5 school in Wilson, NC, serving about 476 students in the Wilson County Schools district, and it ranks as one of the top elementary schools in the state. In 2025–26, Rock Ridge ranked 42nd out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools — the 97th percentile — and it has earned a 5-out-of-5 star rating every year since 2015–16. That level of excellence is especially notable because roughly 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, making Rock Ridge a high-poverty school that achieves results usually seen in much more affluent communities.
Rock Ridge's test scores tower above district and state averages. In 2025–26, third-grade math proficiency was 89.8%, fourth grade 89.7%, and fifth grade 87.0% — roughly 25 to 30 points above North Carolina averages. Reading proficiency ranged from 79.7% to 88.5% across those grades, also far ahead of the state, and fifth-grade science hit 87.0% versus 67.7% statewide. Nearby schools tell the story: Wells Elementary ranks 888th statewide and Margaret Hearne Elementary ranks 1,233rd, while even the closest high performers — New Hope Elementary at 69th and Lucama Elementary at 89th — trail Rock Ridge.
Attendance is one likely driver of this success — Rock Ridge's chronic absenteeism rate is just 8.0%, compared with 22.1% for the district and 24.2% for the state, and far better than Wells Elementary's 29.2%. Rock Ridge also posts outstanding results for nearly every group of students it serves, ranking in the 95th percentile or higher statewide for male, female, Hispanic, African American, English learner, special education, and low-income students. All of this is accomplished with lower per-pupil spending ($8,909) than any nearby elementary school, showing that Rock Ridge's success comes down to consistent instruction, strong attendance, and a culture of high expectations.
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