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Average

#1023 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 39% in state

Lower Creek Elementary

Elementary School · Caldwell County Schools

630 Lower Creek Drive NE, Lenoir, NC 28645

Enrollment

383

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,023 of 2,648

In Lenoir

#1 of 12

public schools

In district

#4 of 23

Caldwell County Schools

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Lower Creek Elementary

6.9/10

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

William Lenoir Middle

4.9/10

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

Hibriten High

4.5/10

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

About Lower Creek Elementary

Lower Creek Elementary is a public elementary school in Lenoir, NC, part of Caldwell County Schools. Lower Creek Elementary serves approximately 383 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Lower Creek Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,023 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Lower Creek Elementary show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.7 pts above district
  • This school 6.9 · Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.55 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61.5% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.5% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-2.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.9 pts
Overall Proficiency60% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+13.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
Resources & Environment6.4Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,066
Chronic Absenteeism26.6%

Lower Creek Elementary — Students at Lower Creek Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 58.3% (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
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
49%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
56%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
61%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
56.9%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
61.5%
ELA
58.5%

* 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: 6.3/10.

How Lower Creek Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
6.9/10
61th percentile in NC
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
6.4/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

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

630 Lower Creek Drive NE, Lenoir, NC 28645

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lower Creek Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hudson Elementary (rated 6.7/10, 5.3 miles away, in nearby Hudson), with a very similar rating. Another option is Baton Elementary (rated 6.0/10, 8.0 miles away, in nearby Granite Falls), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Whitnel Elementary (rated 5.9/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lenoir, see our Lenoir schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.8 mi
School Distance Rating
William Lenoir Middle Lenoir 0.9 mi 4.9
Hibriten High Lenoir 1.0 mi 4.5
Horizons Elementary Lenoir 1.4 mi
Davenport A+ School Lenoir 1.7 mi 4.6
Valmead Elementary Lenoir 1.9 mi 3.0
Whitnel Elementary Lenoir 2.3 mi 5.9
Caldwell Early College Hudson 4.7 mi 8.0
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hudson 4.7 mi 4.3
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy Hudson 4.9 mi 8.2
Hudson Elementary Hudson 5.3 mi 6.7
Hudson Middle Hudson 5.5 mi 5.2
Happy Valley Elementary Lenoir 5.7 mi 4.0
West Caldwell High Lenoir 5.1 mi 3.7
Oak Hill Charter School Lenoir 5.5 mi 2.8
Gamewell Middle Lenoir 6.0 mi 4.4
Gamewell Elementary Lenoir 6.1 mi 3.7
Sawmills Elementary Granite Falls 7.4 mi 5.3
Baton Elementary Granite Falls 8.0 mi 6.0
South Caldwell High Hudson 7.8 mi 6.8
Kings Creek Elementary Lenoir 7.8 mi 4.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28645 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,529

Median Home Value

$157,800

Median Rent

$726/mo

Population

46,237

College Educated

17.3%

Homeownership

71.7%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

12.5%

Median Age

46.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Davis-Townsend Elementary Lexington, NC 6.9
Douglas Elementary Raleigh, NC 6.9
E M Yoder Elementary Mebane, NC 6.9
Franklin Elementary Mount Airy, NC 6.9
Glen Alpine Elementary Morganton, NC 6.9
Hayesville Primary School Hayesville, NC 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lower Creek Elementary

What grades does Lower Creek Elementary serve?

Lower Creek Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lower Creek Elementary?

Lower Creek Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 383 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lower Creek Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Lower Creek Elementary is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lower Creek Elementary rank in NC?

Lower Creek Elementary ranks #1,023 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Lower Creek Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Lower Creek Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 Lower Creek Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lower Creek Elementary has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lower Creek Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Lower Creek Elementary a Title I school?

No, Lower Creek Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

99.2% of students at Lower Creek 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
32 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
383
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Caldwell County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

District

Caldwell County Schools
District Enrollment
10,665
Schools in District
25
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,066
District Rank
#4 of 23

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