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Excellent

#197 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 7% in state

Powell Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

1130 Marlborough Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610

Enrollment

286

Student-Teacher

8.9:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Raleigh

#10 of 98

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#175 of 1,474

In district

#18 of 194

Wake County Schools

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Powell Elementary

Powell Elementary is a public elementary school in Raleigh, NC, part of the Wake County Schools. The school serves approximately 286 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 92.6th percentile among NC schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 45% proficiency in math, 14 points below the state average and 53% in reading/language arts, 0 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.5/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $66,245, where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large city setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, Powell Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+4.15 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics6.7Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52.7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.1%
Math vs. State Avg-11.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.5 pts
Overall Proficiency55%
Expected (poverty-adj.)58%
vs. Expected-2.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile52th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.1Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,859

Powell Elementary — Students at Powell Elementary score 55% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

53.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 45.4%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 52.9%
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
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
52.1%
ELA
58.4%

* 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: 9.5/10.

How Powell Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.6/10
93th percentile in NC
Academic
6.7/10
6.7/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
53%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers

Location

1130 Marlborough Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Powell Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Poe Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Conn Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Hunter Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Raleigh, see our Raleigh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Enloe High Raleigh 0.8 mi 5.6
Longview Raleigh 0.8 mi
Phillips High Raleigh 0.9 mi 5.8
Conn Elementary Raleigh 1.1 mi 8.5
Wake Early College of Health and Science Raleigh 1.3 mi 4.5
Poe Elementary Raleigh 1.5 mi 9.0
Hunter Elementary Raleigh 1.8 mi 8.2
RALEIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Raleigh 1.8 mi 7.8
Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy Raleigh 1.9 mi 8.6
Ligon Middle Raleigh 2.1 mi 6.2
Bugg Elementary Raleigh 2.3 mi 7.6
Central Wake High School Raleigh 2.4 mi 5.2
Brentwood Elementary Raleigh 2.4 mi 7.3
Joyner Elementary Raleigh 2.2 mi 6.5
Moore Square Middle Raleigh 2.2 mi 8.7
Southeast Raleigh Elementary Raleigh 2.5 mi 7.9
Wilburn Elementary Raleigh 2.4 mi 5.5
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Raleigh 2.4 mi 5.2
Carnage Middle Raleigh 2.7 mi 7.6
Underwood Elementary Raleigh 2.4 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27610 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$66,245

Median Home Value

$260,300

Median Rent

$1,319/mo

Population

80,173

College Educated

28.4%

Homeownership

60.4%

Avg Commute

25.1 min

Poverty Rate

15.5%

Median Age

34.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Powell Elementary has a median household income of $66,245. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $260,300, with a median rent of $1,319/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.5%. 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
Bennett School Bennett, NC 8.6
Druid Hills Academy Charlotte, NC 8.6
Estes Hills Elementary Chapel Hill, NC 8.6
Gardners Elementary Elm City, NC 8.6
Inborden Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Academy Enfield, NC 8.6
Mountain Park Elementary State Road, NC 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Powell Elementary

What grades does Powell Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Powell Elementary?

Powell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 286 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Powell Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Powell Elementary is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Powell Elementary rank in NC?

Powell Elementary is ranked #197 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Powell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Powell Elementary has a composite rating of 8.6 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 Powell Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Powell Elementary has 45.4% math proficiency and 52.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Powell Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Powell Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

53.1% of students at Powell 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
24 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
33 Some Transit
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,315/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
286
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
53.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Wake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Wake County Schools
District Enrollment
161,481
Schools in District
197
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,691
District Rank
#18 of 194

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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