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Wells Elementary

Q: Is Wells Elementary a good school?

Wells Elementary ranks 888 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

888^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Wells Elementary School is a PK–5 elementary school in Wilson, NC, serving 383 students in Wilson County Schools, a district rated 3 stars. Wells itself receives a 2-star rating and ranks in the 40th percentile statewide (888 of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools) for 2025-2026. The school serves a high-poverty community, with 95.8% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and its ranking has slid noticeably in recent years — from the 64th percentile in 2022-2023 down to the 40th percentile today.

The school's most striking academic pattern is a grade-level drop-off. In 3rd grade, Wells students outperform district and state proficiency rates in both reading and math. By 4th grade, however, math proficiency falls to 46% versus 61.4% statewide, and 5th grade reading lands at 40.4% — roughly 15 points below the state average. Nearby schools facing similar economic challenges show this is not inevitable. Frederick Douglass Elementary, just 0.4 miles away, serves an equally high-poverty population yet ranks at the 72nd percentile and outpaces Wells in nearly every subject. New Hope Elementary and Lucama Elementary are also high-poverty neighbors and rank at the 95th and 94th percentiles.

Chronic absenteeism is a likely contributor to this slide: 29.2% of Wells students were chronically absent in 2024-2025 — well above the district (22.1%) and state (24.2%) rates, and nearly double the rate at New Hope (10.1%) and Lucama (14.4%). Spending and class sizes do not explain the performance gap — Vick Elementary, one of the lowest-ranked schools in the cluster, actually spends the most per student. For parents, the bottom line is that Wells has genuine early-elementary strengths but struggles to sustain them by 5th grade. Its downward trend — from a 3-star rating in 2022-2023 to 2 stars now — makes attendance and upper-grade academic support the most important areas to watch.

383

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

95.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1400 Grove St N
Wilson, NC 27893-2342

(252) 399-7986

District: Wilson County Schools

Students who attend Wells Elementary usually attend:

High:	Fike High
	Wilson Early College Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

59.3%

White:

18.0%

Hispanic:

15.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Wells Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 64th percentile in 2023 → 40th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (55% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 64th-percentile peak (2023) to 40th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

888^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

97^th of 246Wilson 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	41.4	888 of 1492	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.8	805 of 1490	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.4	655 of 1505	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.0	546 of 1502	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	709 of 1514	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.3	935 of 1489	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.8	698 of 1473	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.1	955 of 1434	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	31.5	1053 of 1429	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.9	1003 of 1425	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	41.1	887 of 1440	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	25.7	1075 of 1390	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	44.8	749 of 1403	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	70.4	399 of 1388	71.3%	★★★★☆
2011	72.5	353 of 1381	74.4%	★★★★☆
2010	68.6	421 of 1363	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	49.6	770 of 1354	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.2	877 of 1324	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.6	656 of 1293	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	46.9	762 of 1276	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.9	363 of 903	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.4	333 of 918	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.3	218 of 924	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	75.5	146 of 933	84.4%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	240 of 927	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	59.4	253 of 896	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	73.9	159 of 949	83.2%	★★★★☆
2018	54.8	379 of 927	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	47.3	766 of 1447	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.8	702 of 1451	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.7	548 of 1455	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.2	314 of 1459	78.5%	★★★★☆
2022	47.8	750 of 1458	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.6	803 of 1440	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.8	743 of 1424	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.1	940 of 1405	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.9	812 of 981	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	54.4	399 of 951	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.7	865 of 1434	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.6	617 of 1437	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.8	355 of 1450	75.5%	★★★★☆
2023	68.1	352 of 1437	75.5%	★★★★☆
2022	62.3	398 of 1366	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	42.5	737 of 1329	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.8	314 of 1361	76.9%	★★★★☆
2018	30.6	1019 of 1332	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.3	975 of 1451	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.9	866 of 1450	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.0	761 of 1464	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	822 of 1461	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.1	654 of 1464	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.2	1002 of 1444	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.2	614 of 1430	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.3	923 of 1413	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.7	468 of 1146	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.3	424 of 1172	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.8	532 of 1166	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.3	303 of 1183	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	64.7	383 of 1194	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	20.7	1018 of 1172	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	61.5	442 of 1183	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.8	383 of 1178	67.5%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2026)60th percentile+19 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)47th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile~ school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)17th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics59%-5 vs state

Science56%-12 vs state

Reading51%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wells 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 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
Wells Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Grove St N	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7986	383	23	16.7	95.8%	69 (18.0%)	227 (59.3%)	58 (15.1%)	7 (1.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.0%)	41.4	888^th of 1492 public elementary schools	40.5%		46.8	805^th of 1490 public elementary schools	46.0%	83	78.0	46.0	56.1	66.0	50.0	40.4	56.1	$9,928	$1,749	$8,179
Frederick Douglass Elementary	Public	K-5	1301 Corbett Ave	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 236-4574	339	22	15.1	98.5%	114 (33.6%)	118 (34.8%)	78 (23.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.4%)	69.7	423^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	71.6%		66.5	460^th of 1490 public elementary schools	69.1%	37	73.7	57.8	81.5	70.2	62.5	64.8	70.4	$9,313	$1,225	$8,089
Margaret Hearne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 W Gold St	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7925	423	27	15.9	99.3%	19 (4.5%)	242 (57.2%)	138 (32.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.4%)	22.7	1233^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	17.4%		22.8	1224^th of 1490 public elementary schools	17.9%	9	35.0	34.8	52.7	38.3	44.9	41.8	67.3	$10,414	$2,422	$7,993
Vick Elementary	Public	K-5	504 N Carroll Street	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7886	359	23	15.4	99.2%	9 (2.5%)	251 (69.9%)	91 (25.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.2%)	8.9	1431^st of 1492 public elementary schools	4.1%		14.3	1356^th of 1490 public elementary schools	9.0%	75	30.6	25.4	45.6	26.4	26.9	33.3	54.4	$13,719	$3,492	$10,227
Vinson-Bynum Elementary	Public	K-5	1601 Tarboro St SW	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7981	458	29	15.8	99.3%	63 (13.8%)	294 (64.2%)	69 (15.1%)	12 (2.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.7%)	70.2	412^th of 1492 public elementary schools	72.4%		58.7	585^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.7%	173	86.9	60.0	62.7	64.3	65.9	63.3	75.0	$11,625	$1,594	$10,030
B O Barnes Elementary	Public	K-5	1913 Martin L King Parkway	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7875	274	23	11.9	98.9%	8 (2.9%)	209 (76.3%)	50 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)	45.6	812^th of 1492 public elementary schools	45.6%		32.3	1053^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	29.3%	241	64.7	57.1	78.8	55.9	45.2	27.3	69.7	$11,225	$3,242	$7,983
New Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	4826 Packhouse Rd	Wilson	27896	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 399-7950	460	29	15.6	99.3%	210 (45.7%)	111 (24.1%)	83 (18.0%)	30 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.4%)	93.2	69^th of 1492 public elementary schools	95.4%		95.3	51^st of 1490 public elementary schools	96.6%	18	82.1	88.9	92.5	73.1	85.6	80.6	91.0	$9,265	$666	$8,598
John W Jones Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4028 Highway 42 West	Wilson	27893	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 265-4020	601	36	16.8	99.5%	120 (20.0%)	319 (53.1%)	100 (16.6%)	26 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	32 (5.3%)	35	1004^th of 1492 public elementary schools	32.7%		41.1	896^th of 1490 public elementary schools	39.9%	108	45.7	35.6	66.2	44.3	48.9	58.8	64.7	$10,499	$2,342	$8,156
Lee Woodard Elementary	Public	K-5	103 Church St	Black Creek	27813	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7940	173	10	17.3	97.1%	73 (42.2%)	40 (23.1%)	48 (27.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.9%)	63.4	528^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.6%		55.4	646^th of 1490 public elementary schools	56.6%	118	55.2	69.2	88.9	58.6	73.1	48.1	74.1	$11,686	$1,635	$10,051
Gardners Elementary	Public	K-5	5404 NC 42 Hwy E	Elm City	27822	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 399-7920	280	18	15.5	98.2%	99 (35.4%)	62 (22.1%)	102 (36.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.1%)	73.8	347^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.7%		80.5	240^th of 1490 public elementary schools	83.9%	107	77.6	80.4	66.7	65.3	67.4	64.3	69.0	$10,906	$1,587	$9,319

Frequently Asked Questions about Wells Elementary

Is Wells Elementary a good school?

Wells Elementary ranks 888^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Wells Elementary in?

Wilson County Schools

How many students attend Wells Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 383 students attended Wells Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Wells Elementary attend?

Students who attend Wells Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Fike High
High : Wilson Early College Academy

What is the racial makeup of Wells Elementary?

Students at Wells Elementary are 59% African American, 18% White, 15% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.