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Very Good

#543 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 21% in state

Ward Elementary

Elementary School · Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

3775 Fraternity Church Road, Winston-salem, NC 27127

Enrollment

482

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Winston-salem

#5 of 29

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#478 of 1,474

In district

#18 of 78

Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools

Academic growth

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Ward Elementary

Ward Elementary is a regular public school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, located on Fraternity Church Road. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 482 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 with 34 full-time equivalent teachers. Ward Elementary's academic performance places it in the 52nd percentile among North Carolina schools, with a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and an academic score of 3.9 out of 10.

In ELA/reading, 35% of students are proficient or above, while in math, that number is slightly higher at 42%. The school is situated in a rural area near a town, providing students with a close-knit community setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Ward Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.22 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics5.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52.7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.2%
Math vs. State Avg-11.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.4 pts
Overall Proficiency45%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+0.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile42th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,036

Ward Elementary — Students at Ward Elementary score 45% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 42.1%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 35.1%
School
State
52.7%

Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
25%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
18%
ELA
27%
2025
Math
52.5%
ELA
38.3%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Ward Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.8/10
80th percentile in NC
Academic
5.9/10
5.9/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
8.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers

Location

3775 Fraternity Church Road, Winston-salem, NC 27127

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ward Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bolton Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 4.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Griffith Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 4.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Frank Morgan Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Clemmons), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Winston-salem, see our Winston-salem schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Clemmons Middle School Winston-Salem 0.1 mi 6.2
Flat Rock Middle Winston-Salem 2.2 mi 3.9
Kimmel Farm Elementary Winston-Salem 2.2 mi 7.2
Clemmons Elementary Clemmons 2.2 mi 7.1
Frank Morgan Elementary Clemmons 3.2 mi 7.8
South Fork Elementary Winston-Salem 4.0 mi 5.5
CALVARY DAY SCHOOL Winston-Salem 4.1 mi 5.2
Southwest Elementary Clemmons 3.9 mi 6.3
West Forsyth High Clemmons 3.8 mi 5.5
CATHEDRAL OAK ACADEMY Clemmons 3.8 mi 7.8
Bolton Elementary Winston-Salem 4.2 mi 8.1
Friedberg Elementary Winston-Salem 4.1 mi 6.5
ABC OF NC CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Winston-Salem 4.1 mi 6.3
ST JOHNS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Winston-Salem 4.3 mi 6.3
Griffith Elementary Winston-Salem 4.2 mi 7.9
Early College of Forsyth Co Winston-Salem 4.7 mi 5.3
Middle College of Forsyth Cnty Winston-Salem 4.7 mi 4.9
Meadowlark Elementary Winston-Salem 5.4 mi 6.4
Meadowlark Middle Winston-Salem 5.3 mi 5.5
Moore Magnet Elementary Winston-Salem 5.2 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27127 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,822

Median Home Value

$189,900

Median Rent

$1,088/mo

Population

41,450

College Educated

30.6%

Homeownership

65.2%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Poverty Rate

11%

Median Age

36.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Ward Elementary has a median household income of $63,822. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $189,900, with a median rent of $1,088/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.0%. The average commute for residents is 22 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
Aquadale Elementary Norwood, NC 7.8
Ashley Park PreK-8 School Charlotte, NC 7.8
Belvoir Elementary Greenville, NC 7.8
Benton Heights Elementary Monroe, NC 7.8
Charles H Tuttle Elementary Maiden, NC 7.8
Clyde Erwin Elementary Jacksonville, NC 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ward Elementary

What grades does Ward Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Ward Elementary?

Ward Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 482 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Ward Elementary is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ward Elementary rank in NC?

Ward Elementary is ranked #543 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Ward Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Ward Elementary has a composite rating of 7.8 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 Ward Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ward Elementary has 42.1% math proficiency and 35.1% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Ward Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Ward Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

99.4% of students at Ward 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
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
12 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,758/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Winston-salem). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
482
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Forsyth County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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 methodology

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