Summary:
ZIP code 27050, covering the Tobaccoville area of North Carolina, contains just one public school: Old Richmond Elementary, serving grades PK–5 with 408 students in the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district. Old Richmond Elementary stands out as a strong school, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking in the 73rd percentile statewide for 2025-2026, placing it in the top quarter of North Carolina elementary schools. The school has maintained its 4-star rating for three consecutive ranking periods, though its statewide rank has gradually slipped from the 85th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 73rd percentile today.
In every subject and grade level tested, Old Richmond Elementary outperforms both its district and the state. For 2025-2026, math proficiency averages 76.2% across grades 3–5, compared to 60.7% for the district and 63.6% for the state. Science proficiency in 5th grade is 79.6%, well above the district's 63.6% and the state's 67.7%. Reading proficiency is also above average, at 60.6% compared to the district's 52.7% and the state's 56.2%, but it remains the school's relative weakness. The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 16.3%, less than half the district rate of 33.6% and well below the state's 24.2%.
Perhaps the most notable finding is that Old Richmond Elementary achieves these results with a student population that is 99.26% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, making it a high-poverty school that consistently exceeds expectations. The school is a clear bright spot within the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district, which ranks in the 35th percentile among North Carolina districts. Families should note that the school serves only grades PK–5, and since ZIP code 27050 contains no middle or high schools, families will need to look outside the immediate area for secondary education. Grade-level performance can also swing from year to year as different cohorts move through, but the school's overall track record remains strong.
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