Summary:
In zip code 27021 (King, NC), there are three elementary schools—Poplar Springs Elementary School, King Elementary School, and Mount Olive Elementary School—all serving grades PK or K through 5 within Stokes County Schools. All three schools serve very high-poverty student populations (over 98% free/reduced lunch), yet academic outcomes vary dramatically.
Mount Olive Elementary School is the standout, ranked in the 83rd percentile statewide (4 stars) with the highest math, reading, and science proficiency averages in the group, and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 14.6%. Poplar Springs Elementary School is also strong and improving—now in the 70th percentile (4 stars)—with average EOG proficiency above the state and district. In contrast, King Elementary School ranks in the bottom fifth (18th percentile, 1 star) and trails district and state averages in essentially every subject. Its chronic absenteeism rate (22.9%) is much higher than the other two schools. In 2025–26, Mount Olive’s average proficiency was about 73% compared to roughly 46% at King—a striking gap of 27 points.
Notably, King actually spends the most per pupil ($12,007) and has the smallest class sizes, while the highest-performing school, Mount Olive, spends the least ($8,969) and has a larger student–teacher ratio. This suggests that funding and class size alone do not predict success here. Attendance tracks achievement closely: the two schools with chronic absenteeism below 16% far outperform the school near 23%. The district’s overall 2-star rating hides a wide range of outcomes, from a top-quartile school to one in urgent need of support. For parents, Mount Olive and Poplar Springs are clearly strong choices in this area, while King represents a significant concern—but also a potential opportunity for improvement.
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