Excellent
#396 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 15% in state
The Downtown School
Elementary School · Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
601 N Cherry Street, Winston-salem, NC 27101
Enrollment
431
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.1
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
431
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.1
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Winston-salem
#6 of 34
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#358 of 1,474
In district
#13 of 78
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
School environment
9.2 / 10
Exceptional
About The Downtown School
The Downtown School serves 431 students in grades PK through 8 in Winston Salem's urban core, earning recognition as one of North Carolina's top elementary schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranking #147 out of 2,661 schools statewide, the school places in the 94th percentile for academic performance across the state. Students benefit from a favorable 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio with 34 full-time equivalent teachers providing instruction.
The school demonstrates strong academic results, with 76% of students achieving proficiency or above in math and 72% meeting or exceeding standards in English Language Arts and reading across all grade levels. The school draws families from the 27101 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $44,798 and median home values reach $192,400. About one-third of neighborhood residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the community faces economic challenges with a 23.1% poverty rate among its 20,831 residents.
Located at 601 N Cherry Street, The Downtown School operates in Winston Salem's large city environment, providing students with both urban educational opportunities and the close-knit feel that comes with serving a diverse community in Forsyth County's heart.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
The Downtown School — Students at The Downtown School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
27.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 18 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 7.2/10.
How The Downtown School Compares
See how The Downtown School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 58% (2019) to 76% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 68% (2019) to 72.1% (2025).
Location
601 N Cherry Street, Winston-salem, NC 27101
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering The Downtown School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Diggs-Latham Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Cook Literacy Model School (rated 8.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Kimberley Park Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Winston-salem, see our Winston-salem schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Academy Winston-Salem | 0.1 mi | 6.4 |
| WINSTON-SALEM STREET SCHOOL Winston-Salem | 0.2 mi | 6.7 |
| The Arts Based School Winston-Salem | 0.3 mi | 6.8 |
| Cook Literacy Model School Winston-Salem | 0.7 mi | 8.1 |
| Carter High School Winston-Salem | 0.8 mi | 4.9 |
| SALEM MONTESSORI SCHOOL Winston-Salem | 0.9 mi | 3.1 |
| J F Kennedy High Winston-Salem | 0.8 mi | 5.4 |
| Kimberley Park Elementary Winston-Salem | 1.1 mi | 8.1 |
| Lowrance Middle Winston-Salem | 1.1 mi | 5.2 |
| Paisley IB Magnet School Winston-Salem | 1.1 mi | 5.4 |
| R J Reynolds High Winston-Salem | 1.0 mi | 5.0 |
| Brunson Elementary Winston-Salem | 1.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Wiley Magnet Middle Winston-Salem | 1.1 mi | 5.1 |
| EPHESUS JR ACADEMY Winston-Salem | 1.2 mi | 5.0 |
| Diggs-Latham Elementary Winston-Salem | 1.6 mi | 8.8 |
| ST LEO CATHOLIC SCHOOL Winston-Salem | 1.4 mi | 6.7 |
| Winston-Salem Preparatory Acad Winston-Salem | 1.5 mi | 6.9 |
| Ashley Academy Winston-Salem | 1.8 mi | 7.2 |
| OUR LADY OF MERCY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Winston-Salem | 2.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Childrens Center Winston-Salem | 2.1 mi | 3.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 27101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$44,611
Median Home Value
$201,500
Median Rent
$970/mo
Population
21,881
College Educated
34.4%
Homeownership
33.4%
Avg Commute
17.8 min
Poverty Rate
25%
Median Age
33.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding The Downtown School has a median household income of $44,611. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $201,500, with a median rent of $970/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Anderson Creek Academy Spring Lake, NC | 8.1 |
| Beverly Hills Elementary Concord, NC | 8.1 |
| Bolton Elementary Winston-Salem, NC | 8.1 |
| Butner-Stem Elementary Butner, NC | 8.1 |
| Catawba Elementary School Catawba, NC | 8.1 |
| Deep River Elementary Sanford, NC | 8.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Downtown School
What grades does The Downtown School serve?
The Downtown School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend The Downtown School?
The Downtown School has an enrollment of approximately 431 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Downtown School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Downtown School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does The Downtown School rank in NC?
The Downtown School is ranked #396 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is The Downtown School's MySchoolScout rating?
The Downtown School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at The Downtown School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, The Downtown School has 71.0% math proficiency and 70.6% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is The Downtown School a charter school?
No, The Downtown School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is The Downtown School a Title I school?
No, The Downtown School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for The Downtown School?
27.4% of students at The Downtown School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Winston-salem). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 431
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 27.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Forsyth County
- Phone
- (336) 703-4125
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools- District Enrollment
- 52,157
- Schools in District
- 81
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,811
- District Rank
- #13 of 78
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.