Average
#1291 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 49% in state
Polenta Elementary
Elementary School · Johnston County Public Schools · Garner, NC
A Johnston County Public Schools elementary school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
105 Josephine Road, Garner, NC 27529
- Math 62% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 59% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Polenta Elementary score 61% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 61% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Polenta Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,877/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Garner), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$86,426
Median home value
$325,600
Median rent
$1,379/mo
College educated
40.6%
Homeownership
72.8%
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27529; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | 1.8 mi | 816 | Compare → |
| West View ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 3.5 mi | 969 | Compare → |
| Southside Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–12 | 4.9 mi | 368 | Compare → |
| Dixon Road ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 638 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Johnston County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 48
- Rank in district
- #22 of 48
- District spending per student
- $11,352NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Polenta Elementary is listed in Johnston County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Polenta Elementary
Polenta Elementary is a public elementary school in Garner, NC, part of Johnston County Public Schools, serving approximately 993 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,291 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Polenta Elementary
What grades does Polenta Elementary serve?
Polenta Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Polenta Elementary?
Polenta Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 993 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polenta Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Polenta Elementary is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polenta Elementary rank in NC?
Polenta Elementary ranks #1,291 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Polenta Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Polenta 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 Polenta Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Polenta Elementary has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Polenta Elementary a charter school?
No, Polenta Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Polenta Elementary a Title I school?
No, Polenta Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polenta Elementary?
99.7% of students at Polenta 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 993
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 66
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Johnston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.9%
- Phone
- (919) 989-6039
- Area population (ZIP 27529)
- 55,201
- Area average commute
- 29.2 min
- Area median age
- 39
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27529; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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