Very Good
#952 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 36% in state
Gardners Elementary
Elementary School · Wilson County Schools · Elm City, NC
A Wilson County Schools elementary school where students score 24 points above what's typical for similar communities.
5404 NC 42 Hwy E, Elm City, NC 27822
- Math 76% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 65% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Gardners Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 24 points since 2020, reaching 71% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Gardners Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- County Safety: Average413/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$61,189
Median home value
$157,800
Median rent
$854/mo
College educated
22.4%
Homeownership
80.5%
Poverty rate
15.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27822; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Wilson County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Douglass ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–5 | Not available | 335 | Compare → |
| Lucama ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 373 | Compare → |
| New Hope ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | K–5 | Not available | 453 | Compare → |
| Rock Ridge ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | K–5 | Not available | 449 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Wilson County Schools
- Schools in district
- 25
- Rank in district
- #9 of 25
- District spending per student
- $12,450NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 27.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Gardners Elementary is listed in Wilson County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Gardners Elementary
Gardners Elementary is a public elementary school in Elm City, NC, part of Wilson County Schools, serving approximately 242 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #952 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Gardners Elementary
What grades does Gardners Elementary serve?
Gardners Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Gardners Elementary?
Gardners Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 242 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardners Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Gardners Elementary is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Gardners Elementary rank in NC?
Gardners Elementary ranks #952 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Gardners Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Gardners Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Gardners Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Gardners Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Gardners Elementary a charter school?
No, Gardners Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Gardners Elementary a Title I school?
No, Gardners Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gardners Elementary?
98.8% of students at Gardners 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 242
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Wilson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.9%
- Phone
- (252) 399-7920
- Area population (ZIP 27822)
- 7,745
- Area average commute
- 21 min
- Area median age
- 46.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27822; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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