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Excellent

#45 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 2% in state

Southwest Elementary

Elementary School · Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

1631 Southwest School Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012

Enrollment

513

Student-Teacher

14.7:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#45 of 2,648

In Clemmons

#1 of 4

public schools

In district

#2 of 78

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Southwest Elementary

9.1/10

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

West Forsyth High

6.5/10

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

Cathedral Oak Academy

7.8/10

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

About Southwest Elementary

Southwest Elementary is a public elementary school in Clemmons, NC, part of Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools. Southwest Elementary serves approximately 513 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Southwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #45 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Southwest Elementary show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares3.0 pts above district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.0
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.03 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.4% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency73% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+12.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+26.4 pts
Overall Proficiency75% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)65% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+9.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,811
Chronic Absenteeism13.6%

Southwest Elementary — Students at Southwest Elementary score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

37.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 75.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 71.6% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
89%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
66%
ELA
63%
2015
Math
79%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
77%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
75%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
75%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
68%
ELA
74%
2021*
Math
68%
ELA
74%
2022
Math
83.4%
ELA
82%
2025
Math
77.1%
ELA
73.7%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Southwest Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in NC
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.1/10
Excellent
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
37%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.6%

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

1631 Southwest School Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Southwest Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sherwood Forest Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 4.9 miles away, in nearby Winston-Salem), with a very similar rating. Another option is Frank Morgan Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Meadowlark Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Winston-Salem), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Clemmons, see our Clemmons schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.0 mi
School Distance Rating
West Forsyth High Clemmons 0.4 mi 6.5
CATHEDRAL OAK ACADEMY Clemmons 0.7 mi 7.8
FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lewisville 2.3 mi 6.7
Meadowlark Middle Winston-Salem 2.4 mi 7.3
CALVARY DAY SCHOOL Winston-Salem 2.2 mi 5.2
Frank Morgan Elementary Clemmons 2.6 mi 8.4
Meadowlark Elementary Winston-Salem 2.5 mi 8.4
Clemmons Elementary Clemmons 3.0 mi 8.1
Lewisville Elementary Lewisville 2.7 mi 8.4
Lewisville Middle Lewisville 3.6 mi 8.3
South Fork Elementary Winston-Salem 3.4 mi 5.2
Clemmons Middle School Winston-Salem 3.8 mi 6.8
Ward Elementary Winston-Salem 3.9 mi 4.6
Jefferson Elementary Winston-Salem 4.5 mi 7.0
Vienna Elementary Pfafftown 5.1 mi 7.8
Thomas Jefferson Middle Winston-Salem 4.8 mi 7.1
Sherwood Forest Elementary Winston-Salem 4.9 mi 9.2
Mount Tabor High School Winston-Salem 5.6 mi 4.9
Bolton Elementary Winston-Salem 5.2 mi 5.3
Flat Rock Middle Winston-Salem 6.0 mi 2.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27012 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$94,082

Median Home Value

$314,500

Median Rent

$1,147/mo

Population

29,708

College Educated

48.8%

Homeownership

80.7%

Avg Commute

25.2 min

Poverty Rate

8.8%

Median Age

45.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Mills Park Elementary Cary, NC 9.1
Parkside Elementary Charlotte, NC 9.1
Porters Neck Elementary Wilmington, NC 9.1
Charlotte East Language Academy Charlotte, NC 9.0
Chatham Grove Elementary Pittsboro, NC 9.0
Grand Oak Elementary Huntersville, NC 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Southwest Elementary

What grades does Southwest Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Southwest Elementary?

Southwest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 513 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Southwest Elementary rank in NC?

Southwest Elementary ranks #45 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Southwest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Southwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Southwest Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Elementary has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Southwest Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Southwest Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

37.4% of students at Southwest 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
18 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
513
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
37.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Forsyth County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.6%

District

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
District Enrollment
52,157
Schools in District
81
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,811
District Rank
#2 of 78

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