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Average

#1288 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 49% in state

Lillington-shawtown Elementary

Elementary School · Harnett County Schools

855 Old US 421, Lillington, NC 27546

Enrollment

678

Student-Teacher

13.3:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,288 of 2,648

In Lillington

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#8 of 27

Harnett County Schools

Academic growth

7.3 / 10

Very Good

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Lillington-shawtown Elementary

6.4/10

Elementary School in Lillington · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Star Academy

Nearby

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

Harnett Central Middle

4.0/10

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

About Lillington-shawtown Elementary

Lillington-shawtown Elementary is a public elementary school in Lillington, NC, part of Harnett County Schools. Lillington-shawtown Elementary serves approximately 678 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Lillington-shawtown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,288 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Lillington-shawtown Elementary show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 6.4 · Average
  • District avg 5.9
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Lillington-shawtown Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

34% of students at Lillington-shawtown Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.24 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.6% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-17.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8 pts
Overall Proficiency43% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-3.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
Resources & Environment6.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,877
Chronic Absenteeism34.4%

Lillington-shawtown Elementary — Students at Lillington-shawtown Elementary score 43% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 41.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 36.7% (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

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
74%
ELA
54%
2010
Math
68%
ELA
53%
2011
Math
68%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
24%
ELA
25%
2013
Math
25%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
31%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
35%
2017
Math
38%
ELA
30%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
36%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
36%
2020*
Math
23%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
23%
ELA
30%
2022
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2025
Math
46.5%
ELA
38.4%

* 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: 7.3/10.

How Lillington-shawtown Elementary Compares

See how Lillington-shawtown Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.4/10
51th percentile in NC
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
6.2/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
51 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.4%

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

855 Old US 421, Lillington, NC 27546

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lillington-shawtown Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Anderson Creek Academy (rated 8.2/10, 11.2 miles away, in nearby Spring Lake), which scores notably higher. Another option is Northwest Harnett Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 11.4 miles away, in nearby Fuquay-Varina), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Carolina Charter Academy (rated 7.4/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Angier), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Lillington, see our Lillington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.6 mi
School Distance Rating
STAR Academy Lillington 0.9 mi
Harnett Central Middle Angier 5.6 mi 4.0
Harnett Central High Angier 5.8 mi 4.6
North Harnett Primary Angier 6.7 mi 6.5
Buies Creek Elementary Buies Creek 5.9 mi 4.5
Harnett Virtual Academy Fuquay-Varina 7.2 mi 1.7
South Harnett Elementary Bunnlevel 7.3 mi 5.0
Boone Trail Elementary Mamers 6.4 mi 5.8
Achievement Charter Academy Fuquay-Varina 9.3 mi 4.8
Anderson Creek Primary Bunnlevel 8.9 mi 5.9
Angier Elementary Angier 9.5 mi 4.8
Western Harnett High Lillington 9.0 mi 5.1
Coats Elementary Coats 8.9 mi 4.5
Western Harnett Middle Lillington 9.4 mi 5.5
Northwest Harnett Elementary Fuquay-Varina 11.4 mi 7.4
Carolina Charter Academy Angier 11.0 mi 7.4
Raleigh Road Elementary Linden 12.2 mi 5.6
Coats-Erwin Middle Dunn 10.1 mi 4.9
Anderson Creek Academy Spring Lake 11.2 mi 8.2
Erwin Elementary Erwin 10.6 mi 3.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27546 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,781

Median Home Value

$227,000

Median Rent

$1,079/mo

Population

20,802

College Educated

26%

Homeownership

65.4%

Avg Commute

30.7 min

Poverty Rate

21%

Median Age

36.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Blackburn Elementary Newton, NC 6.4
Briarwood Academy Charlotte, NC 6.4
Collinswood Language Academy Charlotte, NC 6.4
Dunn Elementary Dunn, NC 6.4
Lakeshore Elementary Mooresville, NC 6.4
Lansdowne Elementary Charlotte, NC 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lillington-shawtown Elementary

What grades does Lillington-shawtown Elementary serve?

Lillington-shawtown Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lillington-shawtown Elementary?

Lillington-shawtown Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 678 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lillington-shawtown Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Lillington-shawtown Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lillington-shawtown Elementary rank in NC?

Lillington-shawtown Elementary ranks #1,288 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Lillington-shawtown Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Lillington-shawtown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Lillington-shawtown Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lillington-shawtown Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lillington-shawtown Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Lillington-shawtown Elementary a Title I school?

No, Lillington-shawtown Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lillington-shawtown Elementary?

99.6% of students at Lillington-shawtown 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
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
16 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
678
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
51
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Harnett County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.4%

District

Harnett County Schools
District Enrollment
20,033
Schools in District
29
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,877
District Rank
#8 of 27

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