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Excellent

#447 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 17% in state

Kensington Elementary

Elementary School · Union County Public Schools

8701 Kensington Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173

Enrollment

975

Student-Teacher

17.4:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#447 of 2,648

In Waxhaw

#5 of 11

public schools

In district

#14 of 52

Union County Public Schools

Academic performance

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Kensington Elementary

8.0/10

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

Marvin Ridge Middle

7.9/10

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

Sandy Ridge Elementary

8.7/10

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

About Kensington Elementary

Kensington Elementary is a public elementary school in Waxhaw, NC, part of Union County Public Schools. Kensington Elementary serves approximately 975 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Kensington Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #447 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Kensington Elementary show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.0
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.75 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency86.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79.3% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+22.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+32.7 pts
Overall Proficiency83% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)73% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
Resources & Environment5.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,340
Chronic Absenteeism14.9%

Kensington Elementary — Students at Kensington Elementary score 83% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

11.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 83.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 76.0% (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
98%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
98%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
97%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
73%
ELA
66%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
70%
2014
Math
71%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
84%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
71%
2018
Math
77%
ELA
74%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
74%
2020*
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
78.7%
ELA
73.7%
2025
Math
86.4%
ELA
79.2%

* 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: 8.4/10.

How Kensington Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.0/10
83th percentile in NC
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
8.4/10
Excellent
Environment
5.7/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
11%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
56 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

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

8701 Kensington Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Kensington Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. New Town Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 4.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Sandy Ridge Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Rea View Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 5.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Waxhaw, see our Waxhaw schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Marvin Ridge Middle Waxhaw 2.2 mi 7.9
Sandy Ridge Elementary Waxhaw 2.2 mi 8.7
Marvin Ridge High Waxhaw 2.3 mi 8.2
South Providence Waxhaw 2.5 mi 4.1
Cuthbertson Middle Waxhaw 2.8 mi 7.2
Cuthbertson High Waxhaw 3.0 mi 7.6
THALES ACADEMY WAXHAW K-5 Waxhaw 3.4 mi 6.0
Waxhaw Elementary Waxhaw 3.0 mi 5.9
Indian Land High Lancaster 3.7 mi 7.1
Marvin Elementary Marvin 4.2 mi 8.0
Rea View Elementary Waxhaw 5.0 mi 8.6
Weddington High Matthews 4.8 mi 7.9
Weddington Elementary Matthews 4.8 mi 8.1
New Town Elementary Waxhaw 4.6 mi 8.8
WEDDINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Weddington 5.4 mi
Indian Land Intermediate Indian Land 4.5 mi 6.6
Indian Land Middle Indian Land 4.5 mi 6.5
Weddington Middle Matthews 5.2 mi 7.6
Indian Land Elementary Indian Land 4.7 mi 7.8
Western Union Elementary Waxhaw 5.0 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28173 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$146,196

Median Home Value

$558,500

Median Rent

$1,700/mo

Population

63,503

College Educated

57%

Homeownership

89.4%

Avg Commute

31.7 min

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Median Age

41.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Ayden Elementary Ayden, NC 8.0
Belville Elementary Leland, NC 8.0
Dixon Road Elementary Willow Spring, NC 8.0
Don D Steed Elementary Raeford, NC 8.0
Heritage Elementary Wake Forest, NC 8.0
Hopewell Elementary School Trinity, NC 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Kensington Elementary

What grades does Kensington Elementary serve?

Kensington Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Kensington Elementary?

Kensington Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 975 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Kensington Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Kensington Elementary is 17.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Kensington Elementary rank in NC?

Kensington Elementary ranks #447 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Kensington Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Kensington Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Kensington Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Kensington Elementary has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Kensington Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Kensington Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

11.4% of students at Kensington 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
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
18 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
975
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Free/Reduced Lunch
11.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Union County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

District

Union County Public Schools
District Enrollment
41,687
Schools in District
52
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,340
District Rank
#14 of 52

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