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Very Good

#812 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 31% in state

Cornelius Elementary

Elementary School · Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

21126 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031

Enrollment

556

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#812 of 2,648

In Cornelius

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#56 of 179

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Academic performance

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Cornelius Elementary

7.3/10

Elementary School in Cornelius · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

J.v. Washam Elementary

7.9/10

1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Davidson K-8 School

8.5/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Cornelius Elementary

Cornelius Elementary is a public elementary school in Cornelius, NC, part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Cornelius Elementary serves approximately 556 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Cornelius Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #812 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Cornelius Elementary show 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts above district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.3
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.55 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency79.5% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+15.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.4 pts
Overall Proficiency74% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)68% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+6.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,198
Chronic Absenteeism19.2%

Cornelius Elementary — Students at Cornelius Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

29.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 74.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 65.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
83%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
73%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
65%
2014
Math
73%
ELA
65%
2015
Math
71%
ELA
59%
2016
Math
73%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
58%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
60%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
60%
ELA
55%
2022
Math
68.7%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
79.8%
ELA
68.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.3/10.

How Cornelius Elementary Compares

See how Cornelius Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
69th percentile in NC
Academic
8.6/10
Excellent
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
7.8/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
30%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
37 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

21126 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cornelius Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Grand Oak Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 3.9 miles away, in nearby Huntersville), which scores notably higher. Another option is Davidson K-8 School (rated 8.5/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Davidson), which scores notably higher. Additionally, J.V. Washam Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Cornelius, see our Cornelius schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.0 mi
School Distance Rating
J.V. Washam Elementary Cornelius 1.1 mi 7.9
Davidson K-8 School Davidson 1.0 mi 8.5
DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL Davidson 1.4 mi 7.3
Community School of Davidson Davidson 1.9 mi 7.1
GRACE COVENANT ACADEMY Cornelius 2.0 mi 5.0
Bailey Middle Cornelius 1.8 mi 7.7
Lakeside Charter Academy Cornelius 2.4 mi 5.6
William Amos Hough High Cornelius 2.2 mi 8.0
LAKE NORMAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Huntersville 3.5 mi 6.6
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LAKE NORMAN Huntersville 3.5 mi
Grand Oak Elementary Huntersville 3.9 mi 9.2
Pine Lake Preparatory Mooresville 3.8 mi 8.3
Langtree Charter Academy Mooresville 4.1 mi 5.7
ST MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Huntersville 4.1 mi 4.7
CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT LAKE NORMAN Huntersville 4.2 mi
LIBERTY PREP CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mooresville 4.0 mi 4.6
Coddle Creek Elementary Mooresville 3.8 mi 7.3
Torrence Creek Elementary Huntersville 4.8 mi 5.7
LOCK AND KEY ACADEMY Huntersville 4.9 mi
Huntersville Elementary Huntersville 5.0 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28031 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$115,746

Median Home Value

$497,400

Median Rent

$1,587/mo

Population

31,021

College Educated

60.6%

Homeownership

72.1%

Avg Commute

25 min

Poverty Rate

4.5%

Median Age

45.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aquadale Elementary Norwood, NC 7.3
Bonnie Cone Classical Academy Huntersville, NC 7.3
Bunn Elementary Bunn, NC 7.3
Coddle Creek Elementary Mooresville, NC 7.3
Davidson Charter Academy Lexington, NC 7.3
Irving Park Elementary Greensboro, NC 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cornelius Elementary

What grades does Cornelius Elementary serve?

Cornelius Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Cornelius Elementary?

Cornelius Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 556 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cornelius Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Cornelius Elementary is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cornelius Elementary rank in NC?

Cornelius Elementary ranks #812 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Cornelius Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Cornelius Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Cornelius Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cornelius Elementary has 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Cornelius Elementary a charter school?

No, Cornelius Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Cornelius Elementary a Title I school?

No, Cornelius Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cornelius Elementary?

29.9% of students at Cornelius Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
72 Very Walkable
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
556
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Free/Reduced Lunch
29.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Mecklenburg County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.2%

District

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
District Enrollment
144,116
Schools in District
184
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,198
District Rank
#56 of 179

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