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Excellent

#23 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 1% in state

Piney Grove Elementary

Elementary School · Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

1500 Piney Grove Road, Kernersville, NC 27284

Enrollment

625

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

9.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Kernersville

#1 of 12

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#20 of 1,474

In district

#1 of 78

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

Equity

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Piney Grove Elementary

Piney Grove Elementary serves 625 students in grades PK through 5 in Kernersville, North Carolina. It earns a composite score of 9.2 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — built on a 9.6 in academics and a 9.4 in growth. Those marks place Piney Grove #23 out of 2,648 public schools statewide, outperforming 99% of North Carolina schools.

Among elementary schools specifically, it ranks #20 of 1,474 — near the top of both lists. Within Kernersville, Piney Grove holds the top spot: #1 of 12 public schools in the city. A student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 gives teachers manageable class sizes, and that structural advantage shows up directly in the school's academic and growth outcomes.

This is a regular public school with no selective admissions process, meaning these scores reflect the full student body rather than a screened applicant pool. For families comparing elementary options in the Kernersville area, the data lines up clearly: Piney Grove ranks among the strongest elementary schools in North Carolina, and the evidence holds across every frame of comparison.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.94 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency82.1%
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.6%
Math vs. State Avg+18.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+27 pts
Overall Proficiency78%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+33.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,036

Piney Grove Elementary — Students at Piney Grove Elementary score 78% 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

99.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.4%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 67.1%
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
54%
ELA
59%
2021*
Math
44%
ELA
50%
2025
Math
82.5%
ELA
73.4%

* 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: 9.4/10.

How Piney Grove Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.2/10
99th percentile in NC
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
9.4/10
Above average
Environment
8.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers

Location

1500 Piney Grove Road, Kernersville, NC 27284

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Piney Grove Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sedge Garden Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 6.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Cash Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 4.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Oak Ridge Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Oak Ridge), a more accessible option. For more schools in Kernersville, see our Kernersville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Kernersville Middle Kernersville 1.9 mi 5.6
Kernersville Elementary Kernersville 2.7 mi 7.0
Oak Ridge Elementary Oak Ridge 3.5 mi 7.7
Colfax Elementary Colfax 4.4 mi 6.5
OAK RIDGE MILITARY ACADEMY Oak Ridge 3.9 mi 8.0
TRIAD BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Kernersville 4.6 mi 5.5
Cash Elementary Kernersville 4.1 mi 8.5
East Forsyth Middle School Kernersville 4.5 mi 4.8
Southeast Middle Kernersville 5.8 mi 4.2
Caleb's Creek Elementary Kernersville 5.9 mi 6.7
GOSPEL LIGHT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Winston-Salem 5.2 mi 6.2
Walkertown Middle Walkertown 5.3 mi 6.5
Walkertown High Walkertown 5.3 mi 4.0
Walkertown Elementary Walkertown 5.4 mi 7.2
Northwest Guilford High Greensboro 5.7 mi 6.5
Northwest Guilford Middle Greensboro 5.7 mi 6.8
Sedge Garden Elementary Kernersville 6.3 mi 9.1
East Forsyth High Kernersville 6.1 mi 4.3
Cornerstone Charter Academy-CFA Greensboro 6.2 mi 5.6
Stokesdale Elementary Stokesdale 6.7 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27284 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$80,739

Median Home Value

$259,500

Median Rent

$1,086/mo

Population

57,119

College Educated

34%

Homeownership

72.1%

Avg Commute

25.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.3%

Median Age

42.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Piney Grove Elementary has a median household income of $80,739. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $259,500, with a median rent of $1,086/month. The local poverty rate of 8.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 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
Benson Elementary Benson, NC 9.2
Efland Cheeks Elementary Efland, NC 9.2
Moss Hill Elementary Kinston, NC 9.2
North Newton Elementary Newton, NC 9.2
Oaklawn Language Academy Charlotte, NC 9.2
Southwest Elementary Durham, NC 9.2

Compare Piney Grove Elementary with similar schools nearby

Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Piney Grove Elementary

What grades does Piney Grove Elementary serve?

Piney Grove Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Piney Grove Elementary?

Piney Grove Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 625 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Piney Grove Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Piney Grove Elementary is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Piney Grove Elementary rank in NC?

Piney Grove Elementary is ranked #23 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Piney Grove Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Piney Grove Elementary has a composite rating of 9.2 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 Piney Grove Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Piney Grove Elementary has 71.4% math proficiency and 67.1% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Piney Grove Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Piney Grove Elementary a Title I school?

No, Piney Grove Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

99.5% of students at Piney Grove 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
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,394/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Kernersville). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Piney Grove Elementary stack up?

Sedge Garden Elementary
9.1

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
625
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Forsyth County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
District Enrollment
52,157
Schools in District
81
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,811
District Rank
#1 of 78

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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