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Excellent

#407 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 15% in state

Seawell Elementary

Elementary School · Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

9115 Seawell School Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Enrollment

442

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#407 of 2,648

In Chapel Hill

#13 of 20

public schools

In district

#12 of 18

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Seawell Elementary

8.0/10

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

Smith Middle

8.4/10

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

Chapel Hill High

8.2/10

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

About Seawell Elementary

Seawell Elementary is a public elementary school in Chapel Hill, NC, part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Seawell Elementary serves approximately 442 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Seawell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #407 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Seawell Elementary show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.46 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.4% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency76.4% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+12.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+29.8 pts
Overall Proficiency76% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+9.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,963
Chronic Absenteeism15.8%

Seawell Elementary — Students at Seawell Elementary score 76% 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

32.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 77.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 76.6% (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

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
96%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
97%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
73%
ELA
75%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2016
Math
76%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
76%
ELA
70%
2018
Math
72%
ELA
73%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
73%
2020*
Math
64%
ELA
68%
2021*
Math
64%
ELA
68%
2022
Math
78.7%
ELA
74.5%
2025
Math
74.1%
ELA
74.7%

* 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: 6.6/10.

How Seawell Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.0/10
85th percentile in NC
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
6.6/10
Average
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
33%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.8%

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

9115 Seawell School Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Seawell Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Morris Grove Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Carrboro Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Carrboro), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Estes Hills Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Chapel Hill, see our Chapel Hill schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Smith Middle Chapel Hill 0.2 mi 8.4
Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 0.4 mi 8.2
McDougle Elementary Chapel Hill 1.3 mi 8.4
McDougle Middle Chapel Hill 1.4 mi 8.2
Carrboro Elementary Carrboro 1.8 mi 8.6
Northside Elementary Chapel Hill 1.8 mi 7.4
Phillips Middle Chapel Hill 1.8 mi 8.0
Morris Grove Elementary Chapel Hill 2.2 mi 8.9
Estes Hills Elementary Chapel Hill 2.0 mi 8.5
Phoenix Academy High Chapel Hill 2.6 mi
Virtual Academy School Chapel Hill 2.6 mi
FPG Elementary Chapel Hill 2.8 mi 8.2
EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL Chapel Hill 3.2 mi 7.0
Carrboro High Carrboro 3.4 mi 7.7
Culbreth Middle Chapel Hill 3.6 mi 7.0
East Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 3.1 mi 8.7
MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL Chapel Hill 3.3 mi 4.8
ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Chapel Hill 3.6 mi 6.8
Scroggs Elementary Chapel Hill 4.3 mi 7.5
Glenwood Elementary Chapel Hill 3.8 mi 8.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27516 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$100,788

Median Home Value

$508,400

Median Rent

$1,446/mo

Population

46,372

College Educated

72.4%

Homeownership

72%

Avg Commute

23.8 min

Poverty Rate

15.4%

Median Age

35.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Beaufort Elementary Beaufort, NC 8.0
Charles H. Parker Academic Center Charlotte, NC 8.0
Drexel Elementary Morganton, NC 8.0
Frederick Douglass Elementary Wilson, NC 8.0
Heritage Elementary Wake Forest, NC 8.0
Holly Tree Elementary Wilmington, NC 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Seawell Elementary

What grades does Seawell Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Seawell Elementary?

Seawell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 442 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Seawell Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Seawell Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Seawell Elementary rank in NC?

Seawell Elementary ranks #407 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Seawell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Seawell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Seawell Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Seawell Elementary has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Seawell Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Seawell Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

32.6% of students at Seawell 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
5 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
20 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
442
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
32.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.8%

District

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
District Enrollment
11,386
Schools in District
21
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,963
District Rank
#12 of 18

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