Very Good
#757 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 29% in state
The Downtown School
Elementary School · Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools · Winston-salem, NC
A Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools elementary school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.
601 N Cherry Street, Winston-salem, NC 27101
- Math 76% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 72% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at The Downtown School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 18 points since 2020, reaching 74% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 73% (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 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
27.4%
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 The Downtown School 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 87Very Walkable
- Bike 81Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,758/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Winston-salem), 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
$44,611
Median home value
$201,500
Median rent
$970/mo
College educated
34.4%
Homeownership
33.4%
Poverty rate
25%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27101; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–12 | 0.1 mi | 281 | Compare → |
| The Arts Based SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.8 | K–8 | 0.3 mi | 611 | Compare → |
| Cook Literacy Model SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 247 | Compare → |
| Salem Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.1private | K–2 | 0.9 mi | 33 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
- Schools in district
- 81
- Rank in district
- #18 of 78
- District spending per student
- $13,811NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
The Downtown School is listed in Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About The Downtown School
The Downtown School is a public elementary school in Winston-salem, NC, part of Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, serving approximately 431 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #757 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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 ranks #757 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is The Downtown School's MySchoolScout rating?
The Downtown School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 The Downtown School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, The Downtown School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 431
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Forsyth County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 6.0%
- Phone
- (336) 703-4125
- Area population (ZIP 27101)
- 21,881
- Area average commute
- 17.8 min
- Area median age
- 33.7
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 27101; 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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