Skip to main content

Very Good

#644 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 24% in state

Roaring River Elementary School

Elementary School · Wilkes County Schools

283 White Plains Rd, Roaring River, NC 28669

Enrollment

192

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina elementary schools

#556 of 1,474

In district

#6 of 22

Wilkes County Schools

Equity

9.1 / 10

Exceptional

About Roaring River Elementary School

Roaring River Elementary School serves 192 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the rural community of Roaring River, North Carolina. With 13 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a comfortable student-teacher ratio of 14.8 to 1, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking in the 71st percentile among North Carolina elementary schools at #761 out of 2,661 schools statewide.

Students show particular strength in mathematics, with 63% achieving proficiency or above, while 59% meet or exceed proficiency standards in English Language Arts and reading. Located at 283 White Plains Road in Wilkes County, Roaring River Elementary serves a close-knit community where the median household income is $50,521 and median home values average $131,100. The surrounding area has a poverty rate of 10.7%, with 16% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

As a regular public school in this rural setting, Roaring River Elementary provides educational foundation for families in a small mountain community, where the ZIP code population totals just 2,662 residents.

What's said publicly about Roaring River Elementary School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Roaring River Elementary School serves 198 students in grades PreK through 5, supported by 43 employees 1 . The school's mascot is the Blue Jays, and students participate in extracurricular activities such as Quiz Bowl, Science Olympiad, and Blue Jay Walkers 1 . The institution identifies as a "Science of Reading" champion and was a Northwest Regional Award Winner for the 2024-2025 period 1 . Its educational mission emphasizes 21st-century global core curriculum, positive attitudes, and a partnership between home, school, and community 1 . The school participates in the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, which provides bi-weekly snacks 1 . Additionally, Wilkes County Schools partners with Second Harvest and The Justice Project to offer free summer meals for children ages 1-18 1 . A new volunteer application platform is scheduled to begin processing applications on July 1, 2025 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. rres.wilkescountyschools.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 192 students, Roaring River Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Roaring River Elementary School 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 Progress7.6Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+2.28 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency63.4%
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.5%
Math vs. State Avg-0.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.9 pts
Overall Proficiency61%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+15.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
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 Ratio14.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,156

Roaring River Elementary School — Students at Roaring River Elementary School score 61% 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

98.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 58.4%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 55.6%
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
42%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
62.8%
ELA
58.7%

* 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: 7.6/10.

How Roaring River Elementary School Compares

See how Roaring River Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
76th percentile in NC
Academic
8.4/10
8.4/10
Growth
7.6/10
Above average
Environment
6.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers

Location

283 White Plains Rd, Roaring River, NC 28669

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Roaring River Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Mulberry Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 10.0 miles away, in nearby North Wilkesboro), which scores notably higher. Another option is Traphill Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 9.6 miles away, in nearby Traphill), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Wilkesboro Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Wilkesboro), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Roaring River, see our Roaring River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Ronda-Clingman Elementary School Ronda 3.7 mi 4.3
East Wilkes High School Ronda 4.4 mi 4.0
East Wilkes Middle School Ronda 4.8 mi 7.1
Mountain View Elementary School Hays 6.8 mi 4.8
North Wilkes High School Hays 7.4 mi 7.3
C C Wright Elementary School North Wilkesboro 7.5 mi 5.5
C B Eller Elementary School Elkin 8.0 mi 5.3
North Wilkesboro Elementary School North Wilkesboro 7.8 mi 3.9
Traphill Elementary School Traphill 9.6 mi 7.9
Elkin High Elkin 8.4 mi 6.6
Global E-Learning Academy Elkin 8.4 mi 7.0
Elkin Middle Elkin 8.4 mi 5.5
HARVEST TIME CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Wilkesboro 8.7 mi 5.7
Elkin Elementary Elkin 8.7 mi 5.2
Appalachian State Univ Academy at Elkin Elkin 8.7 mi 3.6
North Wilkes Middle School North Wilkesboro 9.0 mi 7.8
Jonesville Elementary Jonesville 9.0 mi 6.4
Mulberry Elementary School North Wilkesboro 10.0 mi 8.8
Wilkesboro Elementary School Wilkesboro 11.0 mi 7.6
Wilkes Early College High School Wilkesboro 11.3 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28669 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,802

Median Home Value

$137,700

Population

2,828

College Educated

11.1%

Homeownership

91.7%

Poverty Rate

18.6%

Median Age

48.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Roaring River Elementary School has a median household income of $51,802. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $137,700. The area has a poverty rate of 18.6%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BROOKSTONE SCHOOLS Charlotte, NC 7.7
Children's Village Academy Kinston, NC 7.7
Colerain Elementary Colerain, NC 7.7
Germanton Elementary School Germanton, NC 7.7
J T Barber Elementary New Bern, NC 7.7
Riverbend Elementary Clyde, NC 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Roaring River Elementary School

What grades does Roaring River Elementary School serve?

Roaring River Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Roaring River Elementary School?

Roaring River Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 192 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Roaring River Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Roaring River Elementary School is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Roaring River Elementary School rank in NC?

Roaring River Elementary School is ranked #644 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Roaring River Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Roaring River Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.7 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 Roaring River Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Roaring River Elementary School has 58.4% math proficiency and 55.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Roaring River Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Roaring River Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Roaring River Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Roaring River Elementary School?

98.4% of students at Roaring River Elementary School 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
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
5 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Elevated (840/100K)

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
192
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Free/Reduced Lunch
98.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Wilkes County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Wilkes County Schools
District Enrollment
8,625
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,150
District Rank
#6 of 22

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

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.