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Excellent

#160 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 6% in state

Pilot Mountain Elementary

Elementary School · Surry County Schools

218 Friends St., Pilot Mountain, NC 27041

Enrollment

363

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Pilot Mountain

#2 of 4

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#145 of 1,474

In district

#2 of 20

Surry County Schools

Equity

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Pilot Mountain Elementary

Pilot Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school in Pilot Mountain, NC, part of the Surry County Schools. The school serves approximately 363 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 94th percentile among NC schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 68% proficiency in math, 9 points above the state average and 62% in reading/language arts, 9 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $68,328, where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Pilot Mountain Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.54 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.3Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.9%
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.3%
Math vs. State Avg+13.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.7 pts
Overall Proficiency71%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+26.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment6.9Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,638

Pilot Mountain Elementary — Students at Pilot Mountain Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

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 68.4%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 61.5%
School
State
52.7%

Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
49%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
76.1%
ELA
65.5%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Pilot Mountain Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
94th percentile in NC
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
9.1/10
Above average
Environment
6.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers

Location

218 Friends St., Pilot Mountain, NC 27041

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pilot Mountain Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Shoals Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.3 miles away, in nearby Pinnacle), with a very similar rating. Another option is East Bend Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 12.3 miles away, in nearby East Bend), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Poplar Springs Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 10.5 miles away, in nearby King), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Pilot Mountain, see our Pilot Mountain schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.6 mi
School Distance Rating
East Surry High Pilot Mountain 0.5 mi 5.5
Pilot Mountain Middle Pilot Mountain 0.8 mi 8.7
Shoals Elementary Pinnacle 4.3 mi 8.4
Pinnacle Elementary School Pinnacle 4.6 mi 7.5
Westfield Elementary Pilot Mountain 5.0 mi 6.6
Chestnut Grove Middle School King 7.1 mi 7.0
Mount Olive Elementary School King 7.3 mi 7.9
West Stokes High School King 7.4 mi 5.3
Nancy Reynolds Elementary School Westfield 7.7 mi 5.2
Meadowbrook Academy King 9.5 mi 5.3
Flat Rock Elementary Mount Airy 10.2 mi 4.5
King Elementary School King 10.0 mi 4.8
Mount Airy Middle Mount Airy 10.0 mi 6.4
Bruce H. Tharrington Primary Mount Airy 10.1 mi 6.5
WHITE PLAINS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mount Airy 9.8 mi 6.3
Poplar Springs Elementary School King 10.5 mi 8.2
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL King 11.2 mi 5.1
East Bend Elementary East Bend 12.3 mi 8.4
Millennium Charter Academy Mount Airy 11.3 mi 3.3
Jones Intermediate Mount Airy 11.6 mi 8.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27041 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,328

Median Home Value

$214,900

Median Rent

$796/mo

Population

7,506

College Educated

23.4%

Homeownership

78.4%

Avg Commute

28.3 min

Poverty Rate

11%

Median Age

48.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pilot Mountain Elementary has a median household income of $68,328. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $214,900, with a median rent of $796/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.0%. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Edwin A Alderman Elementary Greensboro, NC 8.7
Elizabeth Traditional Elem Charlotte, NC 8.7
Franklinville Elementary School Franklinville, NC 8.7
George Hildebrand Elementary Connelly Springs, NC 8.7
Glenwood Elementary Chapel Hill, NC 8.7
Pisgah Forest Elementary Brevard, NC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pilot Mountain Elementary

What grades does Pilot Mountain Elementary serve?

Pilot Mountain Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Pilot Mountain Elementary?

Pilot Mountain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 363 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pilot Mountain Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Pilot Mountain Elementary is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pilot Mountain Elementary rank in NC?

Pilot Mountain Elementary is ranked #160 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Pilot Mountain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Pilot Mountain Elementary has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Pilot Mountain Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Pilot Mountain Elementary has 68.4% math proficiency and 61.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Pilot Mountain Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Pilot Mountain Elementary a Title I school?

No, Pilot Mountain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

99.2% of students at Pilot Mountain 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
34 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Elevated (718/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
363
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Surry County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Surry County Schools
District Enrollment
7,352
Schools in District
20
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,301
District Rank
#2 of 20

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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