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Very Good

#730 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 28% in state

Rocky River Elementary

Elementary School · Union County Public Schools

500 N. Rocky River Road, Monroe, NC 28110

Enrollment

530

Student-Teacher

13.6:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#730 of 2,648

In Monroe

#8 of 25

public schools

In district

#22 of 52

Union County Public Schools

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Rocky River Elementary

7.5/10

Elementary School in Monroe · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Apprentice Academy High School

5.9/10

1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Union Academy

5.9/10

1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Rocky River Elementary

Rocky River Elementary is a public elementary school in Monroe, NC, part of Union County Public Schools. Rocky River Elementary serves approximately 530 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Rocky River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #730 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Rocky River Elementary show 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.0
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Rocky River Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

30% of students at Rocky River Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.2Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.26 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency68.9% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+5.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.3 pts
Overall Proficiency63% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+16.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,340
Chronic Absenteeism30.2%

Rocky River Elementary — Students at Rocky River Elementary score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 52.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
79%
ELA
60%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
48%
2013
Math
69%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
74%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
74%
ELA
46%
2016
Math
68%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
76%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
54%
ELA
44%
2019
Math
54%
ELA
44%
2020*
Math
61%
ELA
41%
2021*
Math
61%
ELA
41%
2022
Math
68.7%
ELA
48.7%
2025
Math
68.6%
ELA
56.5%

* 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: 7.2/10.

How Rocky River Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.5/10
73th percentile in NC
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
7.2/10
Very Good
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
30.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

500 N. Rocky River Road, Monroe, NC 28110

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Rocky River Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Wesley Chapel Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sardis Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 5.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Benton Heights Elementary (rated 6.5/10, 3.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Monroe, see our Monroe schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Apprentice Academy High School Monroe 1.6 mi 5.9
Union Academy Monroe 1.7 mi 5.9
Monroe Charter Academy Monroe 2.2 mi 5.0
Walter Bickett Elementary Monroe 2.2 mi 4.6
FIRST ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Monroe 2.2 mi 7.2
Union County Early College Monroe 2.6 mi 8.2
Central Academy of Technology and Arts Monroe 2.8 mi 8.8
Benton Heights Elementary Monroe 3.2 mi 6.5
Wolfe School Monroe 3.4 mi 3.9
Shiloh Valley Primary School Monroe 3.8 mi 3.9
Shiloh Valley Elementary Monroe 3.8 mi 4.2
Sun Valley Middle Indian Trail 4.0 mi 6.4
Sun Valley High Monroe 4.1 mi 6.9
Wesley Chapel Elementary Monroe 3.7 mi 9.1
Monroe Middle Monroe 4.3 mi 4.2
Sardis Elementary Monroe 5.3 mi 7.7
East Elementary Monroe 4.5 mi 4.7
Monroe High Monroe 4.9 mi 4.1
ARBORBROOK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Matthews 5.1 mi 7.6
ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Indian Trail 5.6 mi 5.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28110 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,221

Median Home Value

$302,600

Median Rent

$1,313/mo

Population

55,807

College Educated

23.7%

Homeownership

75.4%

Avg Commute

30.9 min

Poverty Rate

11%

Median Age

36.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Apex Elementary Apex, NC 7.5
Celeste Henkel Elementary Statesville, NC 7.5
Claxton Elementary Asheville, NC 7.5
Concord Lake STEAM Academy Kannapolis, NC 7.5
Creech Road Elementary Garner, NC 7.5
Creekside Elementary Winterville, NC 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Rocky River Elementary

What grades does Rocky River Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Rocky River Elementary?

Rocky River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 530 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Rocky River Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Rocky River Elementary is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Rocky River Elementary rank in NC?

Rocky River Elementary ranks #730 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Rocky River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Rocky River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Rocky River Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Rocky River Elementary has 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Rocky River Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Rocky River Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

99.4% of students at Rocky River 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
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
530
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Union County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
30.2%

District

Union County Public Schools
District Enrollment
41,687
Schools in District
52
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,340
District Rank
#22 of 52

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