Summary:
ZIP code 27013 in the Cleveland, NC area is served by two public PK–5 elementary schools — West Rowan Elementary and Cool Spring Elementary — that together enroll about 1,058 students, with both schools serving nearly identical high-poverty populations (over 99% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility). Despite these similarities, the two schools offer vastly different academic experiences.
Cool Spring Elementary, part of Iredell-Statesville Schools, is the clear academic standout. It ranks in the 92nd percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, holds a 5-star rating, and achieves roughly 80% proficiency across EOG tests — well above state averages in reading, math, and science at every grade level. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 5.8%, far below its district (19.9%) and the state (24.2%). For parents, Cool Spring demonstrates that a school with a nearly identical low-income profile can still produce exceptional results.
In contrast, West Rowan Elementary, in Rowan-Salisbury Schools, ranks in the 16th percentile with a 1-star rating and overall proficiency around 45%. Chronic absenteeism (25.1%) is more than four times higher than Cool Spring’s, and West Rowan generally performs around or below its district average. There are some bright spots, such as 5th grade math exceeding state averages in 2024–25, and spending per student is lower ($7,522 vs. $9,664). The comparison strongly suggests that attendance, school climate, instruction, and funding — factors within a school’s control — may shape outcomes more than family income alone.
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