Summary
Stantonsburg Elementary is a small K-5 school in Stantonsburg, NC, serving about 184 students in a rural part of Wilson County Schools. Nearly all students (98.4%) are economically disadvantaged, placing it among the highest-poverty schools in the region. The school has shown steady progress over the last decade, climbing from the 19th percentile statewide in 2015-2016 to the 47th percentile in the most recent 2025-2026 ranking, which earns it a 2-star rating.
Reading is a genuine strength, especially in upper grades. In 2025-2026, 4th grade reading proficiency reached 67.7% and 5th grade reading hit 64%, both above state averages by roughly 9 points. Math is the main challenge, with just 44% of 5th graders proficient in math — about 27 points below the Wilson County average and 19 points below the state. The school also gets strong results with its highest-need students: effectiveness rankings for low-income and African American students sit at the 71st percentile statewide, and Hispanic students rank at the 65th percentile. One emerging concern is a large gender gap: the school ranks at the 61st percentile for effectiveness with boys, but only the 33rd percentile for girls, down sharply from previous years. On a brighter note, chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, falling from 38.1% three years ago to 19.5% this year, now better than both district and state averages.
Nearby schools with nearly identical poverty levels vary widely in performance, suggesting school-level factors matter. High-performing Lucama Elementary ranks at the 94th percentile, while Vick Elementary sits at just the 4th percentile. Other local schools like Gardners Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, and Vinson-Bynum Elementary land between the 72nd and 77th percentiles, leaving Stantonsburg in the middle of the cluster. Per-pupil spending does not explain these differences — Vick spends about $13,719 per student, the highest of the group, yet ranks the lowest. For parents, the encouraging story at Stantonsburg is its consistent improvement, strong reading practices, better attendance, and solid results for its low-income students, with math clearly the area to watch in the years ahead.
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