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Excellent

#132 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 5% in state

Root Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

3202 Northampton Street, Raleigh, NC 27609

Enrollment

484

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

8.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#132 of 2,648

In Raleigh

#14 of 98

public schools

In district

#26 of 194

Wake County Schools

School environment

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Root Elementary

8.8/10

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

Oberlin Middle

7.8/10

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

St Timothys School

5.6/10

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

About Root Elementary

Root Elementary is a public elementary school in Raleigh, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Root Elementary serves approximately 484 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Root Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #132 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Root Elementary show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.27 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.9Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.4% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66.4% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+7.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+19.8 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+1.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile69th
Resources & Environment9.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism14.3%

Root Elementary — Students at Root Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

31.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 68.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 66.9% (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
78%
ELA
71%
2010
Math
76%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
83%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
53%
ELA
56%
2013
Math
60%
ELA
60%
2014
Math
73%
ELA
68%
2015
Math
68%
ELA
65%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
61%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
63%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
63%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
67%
ELA
73%
2021*
Math
67%
ELA
73%
2022
Math
71.2%
ELA
72.8%
2025
Math
71.4%
ELA
66.4%

* 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: 9.0/10.

How Root Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.8/10
95th percentile in NC
Academic
7.9/10
Very Good
Growth
9.0/10
Excellent
Environment
9.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.3%

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

3202 Northampton Street, Raleigh, NC 27609

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Root Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lacy Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Conn Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Underwood Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Raleigh, see our Raleigh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Oberlin Middle Raleigh 0.9 mi 7.8
ST TIMOTHYS SCHOOL Raleigh 1.1 mi 5.6
THE TRILOGY SCHOOL Raleigh 1.0 mi 7.4
Carroll Middle Raleigh 1.3 mi 5.9
Brooks Elementary Raleigh 1.4 mi 5.2
Joyner Elementary Raleigh 1.2 mi 7.9
Underwood Elementary Raleigh 1.6 mi 8.5
Douglas Elementary Raleigh 1.6 mi 6.9
Green Elementary Raleigh 2.0 mi 5.5
Raleigh Charter High School Raleigh 2.1 mi 9.2
Lacy Elementary Raleigh 1.8 mi 8.7
Needham Broughton High Raleigh 2.4 mi 7.6
Sanderson High Raleigh 2.5 mi 5.7
DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITIES Raleigh 2.3 mi 6.0
Partnership Elementary Raleigh 2.5 mi 8.3
THE FLETCHER ACADEMY Raleigh 2.4 mi 8.9
Martin Middle Raleigh 2.2 mi 7.8
Olds Elementary Raleigh 2.6 mi 7.8
Wiley Elementary Raleigh 2.8 mi 6.3
Conn Elementary Raleigh 2.6 mi 8.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27609 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,538

Median Home Value

$441,100

Median Rent

$1,393/mo

Population

35,548

College Educated

61.2%

Homeownership

51.1%

Avg Commute

21.7 min

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

38.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Baucom Elementary Apex, NC 8.8
Chocowinity Primary Chocowinity, NC 8.8
Doral Academy of North Carolina Raleigh, NC 8.8
Fairview Elementary Fairview, NC 8.8
Hillsborough Elementary Hillsborough, NC 8.8
Mangum Elementary Bahama, NC 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Root Elementary

What grades does Root Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Root Elementary?

Root Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 484 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Root Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Root Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Root Elementary rank in NC?

Root Elementary ranks #132 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Root Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Root Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Root Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Root Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Root Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Root Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

31.6% of students at Root 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
13 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
32 Some Transit
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
484
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
31.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.3%

District

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

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