Average
#1843 of 2,648 schools in NC
Sawmills Elementary
Elementary School · Caldwell County Schools
4436 Sawmills School Road, Granite Falls, NC 28630
Enrollment
336
Student-Teacher
14.6:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
336
Student-Teacher
14.6:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
North Carolina schools
#1,843 of 2,648
In Granite Falls
#4 of 6
public schools
In district
#10 of 23
Caldwell County Schools
School environment
7.4 / 10
Very Good
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Sawmills Elementary
Elementary School in Granite Falls · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
South Caldwell High
1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Hudson Middle
2.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Sawmills Elementary
Sawmills Elementary is a public elementary school in Granite Falls, NC, part of Caldwell County Schools. Sawmills Elementary serves approximately 336 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Sawmills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,843 of 2,648 schools in NC.
Structured state assessment records for Sawmills Elementary show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 5.3 · Average
- District avg 5.2
- NC avg 6.4
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Sawmills Elementary — Students at Sawmills Elementary score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 4.0/10.
How Sawmills Elementary Compares
See how Sawmills Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
4436 Sawmills School Road, Granite Falls, NC 28630
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Sawmills Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Granite Falls Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Icard Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Connelly Springs), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hudson Elementary (rated 6.7/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Hudson), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Granite Falls, see our Granite Falls schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 7.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High Hudson | 1.6 mi | 6.8 |
| Hudson Middle Hudson | 2.1 mi | 5.2 |
| Hudson Elementary Hudson | 2.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy Hudson | 2.6 mi | 8.2 |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hudson | 2.7 mi | 4.3 |
| Caldwell Early College Hudson | 2.7 mi | 8.0 |
| Granite Falls Middle Granite Falls | 2.6 mi | 6.0 |
| Granite Falls Elementary Granite Falls | 2.6 mi | 7.8 |
| Baton Elementary Granite Falls | 3.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School Valdese | 5.1 mi | 7.0 |
| Whitnel Elementary Lenoir | 5.5 mi | 5.9 |
| Ray Childers Elementary Hickory | 5.5 mi | 6.5 |
| CHRIST CLASSICAL ACADEMY Connelly Springs | 5.9 mi | 4.8 |
| Icard Elementary Connelly Springs | 6.2 mi | 7.7 |
| Dudley Shoals Elementary Granite Falls | 5.5 mi | 5.0 |
| East Burke High Connelly Springs | 6.7 mi | 6.1 |
| East Burke Middle Connelly Springs | 7.2 mi | 5.0 |
| Oak Hill Charter School Lenoir | 6.7 mi | 2.8 |
| William Lenoir Middle Lenoir | 7.4 mi | 4.9 |
| Hibriten High Lenoir | 7.4 mi | 4.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28630 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$65,713
Median Home Value
$197,800
Median Rent
$808/mo
Population
20,400
College Educated
18.2%
Homeownership
77.4%
Avg Commute
26.3 min
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Median Age
46.3
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Andrews Elementary Andrews, NC | 5.3 |
| Bolton Elementary Winston-Salem, NC | 5.3 |
| Carver Elementary Wendell, NC | 5.3 |
| Leaksville-Spray Elementary Eden, NC | 5.3 |
| Margaret Hearne Elementary Wilson, NC | 5.3 |
| Nathanael Greene Elementary Liberty, NC | 5.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sawmills Elementary
What grades does Sawmills Elementary serve?
Sawmills Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Sawmills Elementary?
Sawmills Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 336 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sawmills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sawmills Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sawmills Elementary rank in NC?
Sawmills Elementary ranks #1,843 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Sawmills Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sawmills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Sawmills Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sawmills Elementary has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Sawmills Elementary a charter school?
No, Sawmills Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sawmills Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sawmills Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sawmills Elementary?
99.1% of students at Sawmills 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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 336
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Caldwell County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.5%
- Phone
- (828) 396-2610
Resources & Links
District
Caldwell County Schools- District Enrollment
- 10,665
- Schools in District
- 25
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,066
- District Rank
- #10 of 23
Other Schools in This District
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