Average
#1250 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 47% in state
Southwood Elementary
Elementary School · Lenoir County Public Schools · Kinston, NC
A Lenoir County Public Schools elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1245 Hwy 58 South, Kinston, NC 28504
- Math 58% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 53% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southwood Elementary score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 31 points since 2020, reaching 55% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Southwood Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,990/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Kinston), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$50,650
Median home value
$124,500
Median rent
$905/mo
College educated
17.6%
Homeownership
61.9%
Poverty rate
18.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28504; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 3.5 mi | 270 | Compare → |
| Children's Village AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.2 | K–8 | 4.1 mi | 149 | Compare → |
| Northeast ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 5.0 mi | 433 | Compare → |
| Banks ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | PK–5 | Not available | 483 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Lenoir County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #5 of 17
- District spending per student
- $12,902NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southwood Elementary is listed in Lenoir County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southwood Elementary
Southwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Kinston, NC, part of Lenoir County Public Schools, serving approximately 235 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,250 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southwood Elementary
What grades does Southwood Elementary serve?
Southwood Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Southwood Elementary?
Southwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 235 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwood Elementary is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwood Elementary rank in NC?
Southwood Elementary ranks #1,250 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Southwood Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwood Elementary has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southwood Elementary a charter school?
No, Southwood Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwood Elementary a Title I school?
No, Southwood Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwood Elementary?
98.7% of students at Southwood 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 235
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Lenoir County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.7%
- Phone
- (252) 527-9081
- Area population (ZIP 28504)
- 20,325
- Area average commute
- 22.7 min
- Area median age
- 43.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28504; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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