Average
#1535 of 2,648 schools in NC
Sugar Loaf Elementary
Elementary School · Alexander County Schools · Taylorsville, NC
An Alexander County Schools elementary school where students score 3 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3600 NC Hwy 16N, Taylorsville, NC 28681
- Math 58% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sugar Loaf Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 37 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 50% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (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
98.5%
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 Sugar Loaf 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 7Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,196/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Taylorsville), 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
$61,343
Median home value
$188,000
Median rent
$719/mo
College educated
15.2%
Homeownership
80.7%
Poverty rate
11.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28681; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylorsville ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | 3.5 mi | 241 | Compare → |
| Bethlehem ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–5 | Not available | 452 | Compare → |
| Ellendale ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–5 | Not available | 201 | Compare → |
| Stony Point ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 207 | 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.
Alexander County Schools
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #10 of 11
- District spending per student
- $12,929NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Sugar Loaf Elementary is listed in Alexander County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sugar Loaf Elementary
Sugar Loaf Elementary is a public elementary school in Taylorsville, NC, part of Alexander County Schools, serving approximately 194 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,535 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sugar Loaf Elementary
What grades does Sugar Loaf Elementary serve?
Sugar Loaf Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Sugar Loaf Elementary?
Sugar Loaf Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 194 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sugar Loaf Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sugar Loaf Elementary is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sugar Loaf Elementary rank in NC?
Sugar Loaf Elementary ranks #1,535 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Sugar Loaf Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sugar Loaf Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Sugar Loaf Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sugar Loaf Elementary has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Sugar Loaf Elementary a charter school?
No, Sugar Loaf Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sugar Loaf Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sugar Loaf Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sugar Loaf Elementary?
98.5% of students at Sugar Loaf 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
- 194
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Alexander County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.5%
- Phone
- (828) 632-2192
- Area population (ZIP 28681)
- 26,117
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 44.2
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 28681; 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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