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Average

#1544 of 2,648 schools in NC

Whitnel Elementary

Elementary School · Caldwell County Schools

1425 Berkley Street SW, Lenoir, NC 28645

Enrollment

267

Student-Teacher

12.1:1

Score

5.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,544 of 2,648

In Lenoir

#2 of 12

public schools

In district

#9 of 23

Caldwell County Schools

School environment

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Whitnel Elementary

5.9/10

Elementary School in Lenoir · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Davenport A+ School

4.6/10

1.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lower Creek Elementary

6.9/10

2.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Whitnel Elementary

Whitnel Elementary is a public elementary school in Lenoir, NC, part of Caldwell County Schools. Whitnel Elementary serves approximately 267 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Whitnel Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,544 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Whitnel Elementary show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 5.9 · Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.2Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.8 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47.7% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-16.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.7 pts
Overall Proficiency43% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-3.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
Resources & Environment9.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,066
Chronic Absenteeism26.6%

Whitnel Elementary — Students at Whitnel Elementary score 43% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

98.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 40.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 41.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2014
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
22%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
22%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
28.2%
ELA
31.2%
2025
Math
48.6%
ELA
38.1%

* 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: 5.2/10.

How Whitnel Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
5.9/10
42th percentile in NC
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
5.2/10
Average
Environment
9.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1425 Berkley Street SW, Lenoir, NC 28645

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Whitnel Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Granite Falls Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 7.5 miles away, in nearby Granite Falls), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lower Creek Elementary (rated 6.9/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Hudson Elementary (rated 6.7/10, 3.6 miles away, in nearby Hudson), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Lenoir, see our Lenoir schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Davenport A+ School Lenoir 1.8 mi 4.6
Lower Creek Elementary Lenoir 2.3 mi 6.9
Horizons Elementary Lenoir 2.6 mi
William Lenoir Middle Lenoir 2.7 mi 4.9
Hibriten High Lenoir 2.8 mi 4.5
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hudson 3.0 mi 4.3
Caldwell Early College Hudson 3.0 mi 8.0
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy Hudson 3.2 mi 8.2
Valmead Elementary Lenoir 3.4 mi 3.0
Hudson Elementary Hudson 3.6 mi 6.7
Hudson Middle Hudson 3.8 mi 5.2
West Caldwell High Lenoir 3.9 mi 3.7
Gamewell Elementary Lenoir 4.5 mi 3.7
Gamewell Middle Lenoir 4.5 mi 4.4
Baton Elementary Granite Falls 5.7 mi 6.0
Sawmills Elementary Granite Falls 5.5 mi 5.3
South Caldwell High Hudson 6.2 mi 6.8
Oak Hill Charter School Lenoir 5.9 mi 2.8
Happy Valley Elementary Lenoir 7.6 mi 4.0
Granite Falls Elementary Granite Falls 7.5 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28645 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,529

Median Home Value

$157,800

Median Rent

$726/mo

Population

46,237

College Educated

17.3%

Homeownership

71.7%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

12.5%

Median Age

46.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Central Elementary Hillsborough, NC 5.9
Coleridge Elementary School Ramseur, NC 5.9
Gatesville Elementary Gatesville, NC 5.9
Manchester Elementary Spring Lake, NC 5.9
North Elementary Kings Mountain, NC 5.9
Pisgah Elementary Candler, NC 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Whitnel Elementary

What grades does Whitnel Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Whitnel Elementary?

Whitnel Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 267 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitnel Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Whitnel Elementary is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Whitnel Elementary rank in NC?

Whitnel Elementary ranks #1,544 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Whitnel Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Whitnel 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 Whitnel Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Whitnel Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Whitnel Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Whitnel Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

98.9% of students at Whitnel 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
28 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
267
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
98.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Caldwell County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

District

Caldwell County Schools
District Enrollment
10,665
Schools in District
25
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,066
District Rank
#9 of 23

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