Very Good
#646 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 24% in state
J S Waters School
Elementary School · Chatham County Schools · Goldston, NC
A Chatham County Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 8th.
55 J S Waters School Road, Goldston, NC 27252
- Math 60% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at J S Waters School score 57% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 17 points since 2020, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (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 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
63.9%
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 J S Waters School 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 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated737/100K
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
$37,934
Median home value
$168,100
Median rent
$900/mo
College educated
7.3%
Homeownership
88.8%
Poverty rate
5.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27252; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Chatham County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–8 | Not available | 182 | Compare → |
| Chatham Grove ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 687 | Compare → |
| North Chatham ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–5 | Not available | 623 | Compare → |
| Perry W Harrison ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | PK–5 | Not available | 240 | 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.
Chatham County Schools
- Schools in district
- 21
- Rank in district
- #9 of 19
- District spending per student
- $14,128NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
J S Waters School is listed in Chatham County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About J S Waters School
J S Waters School is a public elementary school in Goldston, NC, part of Chatham County Schools, serving approximately 208 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #646 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about J S Waters School
What grades does J S Waters School serve?
J S Waters School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend J S Waters School?
J S Waters School has an enrollment of approximately 208 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J S Waters School?
The student-teacher ratio at J S Waters School is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does J S Waters School rank in NC?
J S Waters School ranks #646 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is J S Waters School's MySchoolScout rating?
J S Waters School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 J S Waters School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, J S Waters School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is J S Waters School a charter school?
No, J S Waters School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is J S Waters School a Title I school?
No, J S Waters School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for J S Waters School?
63.9% of students at J S Waters School 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 – 8th
- Enrollment
- 208
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Chatham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.0%
- Phone
- (919) 898-2259
- Area population (ZIP 27252)
- 1,066
- Area median age
- 50.3
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 27252; 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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