Summary:
ZIP code 27316 (Ramseur, NC) is home to two public elementary schools—Ramseur Elementary School (PK–5) and Coleridge Elementary School (K–5)—both part of the Randolph County School System and serving communities with very high poverty rates.
Coleridge Elementary is the clear academic standout. Over the past three years, it has moved from the 11th percentile in state rankings to the 36th percentile, recently earning a 2-star rating. In the 2025-2026 school year, Coleridge outperformed Ramseur in nearly every tested subject and in several areas matched or exceeded district and state averages—especially 3rd grade math (67.6% proficient vs. 66.4% statewide) and 5th grade science (70.0% vs. 67.7% statewide). Meanwhile, Ramseur Elementary offers more resources, including a lower student-teacher ratio (13.3 vs. 15.6) and higher per-student spending ($11,800 vs. $10,652), but these advantages are not reflected in test scores. Ramseur’s proficiency rates remain below district and state averages in every grade and subject, and its state ranking has stayed near the 12th percentile.
Both schools face serious challenges. Chronic absenteeism affects about 26% of students at each school—above district and state levels—and reading proficiency is especially low, particularly at Ramseur. Still, there is good news: both schools improved their overall average EOG proficiency from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with Coleridge improving faster (+9.6 points vs. +6.3 points). Coleridge’s progress is particularly encouraging given that 98.9% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. While Ramseur remains a concern, Coleridge’s recent gains suggest that meaningful academic improvement is possible even in high-poverty schools.
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