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Excellent

#188 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 7% in state

Locust Elementary

Elementary School · Stanly County Schools

103 School Rd, Locust, NC 28097

Enrollment

526

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#188 of 2,648

In Locust

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#3 of 22

Stanly County Schools

Equity

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Locust Elementary

8.6/10

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

Carolina Christian School

6.3/10

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

Stanfield Elementary

6.0/10

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

About Locust Elementary

Locust Elementary is a public elementary school in Locust, NC, part of Stanly County Schools. Locust Elementary serves approximately 526 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Locust Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #188 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Locust Elementary show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.9 pts above district
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.7
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Locust 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.33 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency77.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66.2% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+13.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+19.6 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+24.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,914
Chronic Absenteeism12.2%

Locust Elementary — Students at Locust Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

96%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 64.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 59.7% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
81%
ELA
73%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
38%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
51%
ELA
50%
2017
Math
53%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
53%
ELA
56%
2019
Math
53%
ELA
56%
2020*
Math
60%
ELA
54%
2021*
Math
60%
ELA
54%
2022
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
77.2%
ELA
66.1%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How Locust Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.6/10
93th percentile in NC
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
96%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.2%

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

103 School Rd, Locust, NC 28097

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Locust Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Oakboro Choice STEM (rated 9.6/10, 5.1 miles away, in nearby Oakboro), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Millingport Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 10.5 miles away, in nearby Albemarle), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Patriots Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 9.9 miles away, in nearby Concord), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Locust, see our Locust schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.6 mi
School Distance Rating
CAROLINA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Locust 1.5 mi 6.3
Stanfield Elementary Stanfield 2.3 mi 6.0
West Stanly Middle School Locust 2.2 mi 7.1
West Stanly High Oakboro 4.1 mi 6.0
Oakboro Choice STEM Oakboro 5.1 mi 9.6
Bethel Elementary Midland 6.7 mi 7.7
A T Allen Elementary Concord 8.7 mi 5.9
New Salem Elementary Marshville 9.6 mi 6.6
Endy Elementary Albemarle 8.4 mi 5.6
Mount Pleasant Elementary Mt. Pleasant 10.7 mi 7.9
Mount Pleasant High Mount Pleasant 10.6 mi 6.5
Fairview Elementary Monroe 9.9 mi 7.6
Mount Pleasant Middle Mount Pleasant 10.8 mi 6.2
Millingport Elementary Albemarle 10.5 mi 8.0
Patriots Elementary Concord 9.9 mi 8.0
C C Griffin Middle Concord 10.0 mi 5.8
Piedmont High Monroe 12.3 mi 7.0
Piedmont Middle Monroe 12.5 mi 5.6
C3 CONCORD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Concord 11.8 mi 5.8
Central Cabarrus High Concord 11.6 mi 5.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28097 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$77,600

Median Home Value

$281,200

Median Rent

$861/mo

Population

7,976

College Educated

19.5%

Homeownership

81.7%

Avg Commute

30.7 min

Poverty Rate

10.1%

Median Age

37

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alamance Elementary Greensboro, NC 8.6
Badin Elementary Badin, NC 8.6
Blue Ridge Elementary Warrensville, NC 8.6
Carrboro Elementary Carrboro, NC 8.6
Castle Hayne Elementary Castle Hayne, NC 8.6
Conn Elementary Raleigh, NC 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Locust Elementary

What grades does Locust Elementary serve?

Locust Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Locust Elementary?

Locust Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 526 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Locust Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Locust Elementary is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Locust Elementary rank in NC?

Locust Elementary ranks #188 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Locust Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Locust Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Locust Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Locust Elementary has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Locust Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Locust Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

96.0% of students at Locust 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
28 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
526
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
96.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Stanly County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.2%

District

Stanly County Schools
District Enrollment
8,739
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,914
District Rank
#3 of 22

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