Bethlehem Elementary

Summary:

Bethlehem Elementary is a public elementary school located in Taylorsville, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 458. The school is part of the Alexander County Schools district, which is ranked 104 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bethlehem Elementary consistently outperforms the Alexander County Schools district and the state of North Carolina in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. In the 2023-2024 school year, Bethlehem Elementary had significantly higher proficiency rates in Mathematics, Reading, and Science compared to the district and state averages. The school also excels in supporting various student subgroups, with high rankings in the state for Special Education students, Low Socioeconomic Status students, and Gifted and Talented students.

Bethlehem Elementary's diverse student population, with 80.13% White, 9.17% Hispanic, 4.37% Asian, and 2.4% African American students, is higher than the nearby Ellendale Elementary (87.5% White) and Wittenburg Elementary (79.35% White) schools. This diversity, combined with the school's consistent academic performance and exceptional support for diverse learners, make Bethlehem Elementary a standout institution within the Alexander County Schools district and the state of North Carolina.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 7900 NC Hwy 127
       Taylorsville, NC  28681-9756


(828) 495-8198

District: Alexander County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
344th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,332 Help


Students who attend Bethlehem Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    West Alexander Middle
High:    Alexander Central High

Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  458

Racial breakdown:

White:
80.1%
Hispanic:
9.2%
Asian:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  51.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bethlehem Elementary ranks better than 77.1% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Alexander County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 74. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Bethlehem Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Alexander County Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (80.1%), Hispanic (9.2%), Asian (4.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 51.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Alexander County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bethlehem Elementary is 16.5. 5 elementary schools in the Alexander County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bethlehem Elementary employs 27.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bethlehem Elementary is $9,332, which is the lowest among 7 elementary schools in the Alexander County Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bethlehem Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Bethlehem Elementary 344th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Bethlehem Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
White students:


Alexander County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Alexander County Schools 104th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bethlehem Elementary.

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Rank History for Bethlehem Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 78.28 194th 1276 84.8%
2007 68.63 377th 1293 70.8%
2008 68.47 379th 1324 71.4%
2009 79.23 224th 1354 83.5%
2010 85.63 110th 1363 91.9%
2011 76.97 250th 1381 81.9%
2012 81.52 175th 1388 87.4%
2013 79.83 230th 1403 83.6%
2014 73.13 339th 1390 75.6%
2015 66.04 474th 1440 67.1%
2016 65.42 472nd 1425 66.9%
2017 70.86 388th 1429 72.8%
2018 66.55 473rd 1434 67.0%
2019 64.71 491st 1473 66.7%
2021 72.40 363rd 1489 75.6%
2022 74.00 341st 1514 77.5%
2023 78.78 257th 1502 82.9%
2024 74.00 344th 1505 77.1%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 75.40 97th 801 87.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.85 491st 1332 63.1%
2019 63.88 414th 1361 69.6%
2021 79.48 162nd 1329 87.8%
2022 83.23 108th 1366 92.1%
2023 84.46 99th 1437 93.1%
2024 88.03 63rd 1450 95.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.55 420th 1405 70.1%
2019 69.67 394th 1424 72.3%
2021 67.96 391st 1440 72.8%
2022 73.68 319th 1458 78.1%
2023 71.47 366th 1459 74.9%
2024 67.96 400th 1455 72.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 43.11 476th 878 45.8%
2021 79.40 60th 646 90.7%
2022 82.39 42nd 634 93.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 65.32 118th 612 80.7%
2023 68.26 49th 582 91.6%
2024 72.74 8th 669 98.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.20 506th 1413 64.2%
2019 59.18 566th 1430 60.4%
2021 73.41 345th 1444 76.1%
2022 70.59 374th 1464 74.5%
2023 82.67 187th 1461 87.2%
2024 74.12 317th 1464 78.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Bethlehem Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.94 790th 1178 32.9%
2019 33.59 883rd 1183 25.4%
2021 51.57 552nd 1172 52.9%
2022 58.54 476th 1194 60.1%
2023 56.26 522nd 1183 55.9%
2024 54.96 527th 1166 54.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bethlehem Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

by a parent
Friday, September 9, 2016

Open Quote This school is over the top with rules. They have not started a positive reinforcement program to encourage students to behave. The clip charts are a thing of the past for most schools. Lunch should be a break and students should be allowed to talk, the red cup/green cup to control talking during this time is ridiculous. I also do not agree with my children walking laps at recess. If the children were allowed more time at lunch and recess to express themselves, there would be less behavior issues. My children are so focused only following rules, they are not focusing on more important issues. I feel this school is behind the changes that are happening in other counties. They desperately need to update their policies and try to be more current with the positive changes happening at other schools. This school is more like elementary schools of the 90s, time for some improvement. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bethlehem Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 568 2 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 571
1989 577 2 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 580
1990 587 2 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 591
1991 599 1 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 602
1992 594 0 7 2 0 n/a n/a 0 603
1993 618 0 6 7 0 n/a n/a 0 631
1994 606 0 10 11 0 n/a n/a 0 627
1995 640 3 13 11 0 n/a n/a 0 667
1996 640 3 13 11 0 n/a n/a 0 667
1997 635 4 20 8 0 n/a n/a 0 667
1998 653 5 28 9 0 n/a n/a 0 695
1999 653 8 26 5 0 n/a n/a 0 692
2000 642 7 27 6 0 n/a n/a 0 682
2001 650 14 40 12 0 n/a n/a 0 716
2002 528 21 25 15 0 n/a n/a 0 589
2003 528 21 25 15 0 n/a n/a 0 589
2004 487 19 24 11 0 n/a n/a 0 541
2005 508 21 22 6 1 n/a n/a 0 558
2006 486 17 23 6 1 n/a n/a 0 533
2007 478 2 25 4 0 n/a n/a 11 520
2008 448 4 26 7 0 n/a n/a 13 498
2009 435 17 30 9 0 n/a n/a 0 491
2010 434 23 27 14 0 n/a n/a 0 498
2011 427 1 21 16 0 0 13 0 478
2012 431 5 23 17 0 0 16 0 492
2013 451 2 20 15 0 0 16 0 504
2014 432 2 16 21 0 0 21 0 492
2015 439 5 13 17 0 1 13 0 488
2016 426 7 13 17 0 0 13 0 476
2017 392 7 12 23 0 1 15 0 450
2018 394 6 8 20 0 1 17 0 446
2019 398 7 11 28 0 1 16 0 461
2020 401 9 13 27 0 1 15 0 466
2021 339 9 10 43 0 1 13 0 415
2022 348 12 20 39 0 1 17 0 437
2023 367 11 20 42 0 0 18 0 458

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bethlehem Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 571 28.0 20.3 10.3
1989 580 28.0 20.7 20.9
1990 591 28.0 21.1 15.2
1991 602 28.0 21.5 15
1992 603 28.0 21.5 9.5
1993 631 33.0 19.1 16.3
1994 627 34.0 18.4 17.5
1995 667 37.0 18.0 16.3
1996 667 37.0 18.0 16.3
1997 667 34.0 19.6 14.5
1998 695 35.0 19.9 16.1
1999 692 35.0 19.8 20.7
2000 682 37.0 18.4 18.9
2001 716 37.0 19.4 n/a
2002 589 33.0 17.8 27
2003 589 33.0 17.8 27
2004 541 35.0 15.5 27.2
2005 558 32.0 17.4 27.8
2006 533 32.0 16.7 26.8
2007 520 n/a n/a 30.5
2008 498 31.0 16.1 31.8
2009 491 30.0 16.4 35.6
2010 498 30.0 16.6 37.1
2011 478 30.0 15.9 37
2012 492 30.0 16.4 41.9
2013 504 30.9 16.2 41.7
2014 492 32.0 15.3 38.4
2015 488 30.0 16.2 36.1
2016 476 28.0 17.0 36.6
2017 450 26.4 17.0 37.6
2018 446 25.2 17.6 30.9
2019 461 26.0 17.7 31
2020 466 25.3 18.3 32.4
2021 415 26.3 15.7 38.6
2022 437 25.7 16.9 37.3
2023 458 27.7 16.5 51.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bethlehem Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 571 28.0 20.3 10.3
1989 580 28.0 20.7 20.9
1990 591 28.0 21.1 15.2
1991 602 28.0 21.5 15
1992 603 28.0 21.5 9.5
1993 631 33.0 19.1 16.3
1994 627 34.0 18.4 17.5
1995 667 37.0 18.0 16.3
1996 667 37.0 18.0 16.3
1997 667 34.0 19.6 14.5
1998 695 35.0 19.9 16.1
1999 692 35.0 19.8 20.7
2000 682 37.0 18.4 18.9
2001 716 37.0 19.4 n/a
2002 589 33.0 17.8 27
2003 589 33.0 17.8 27
2004 541 35.0 15.5 27.2
2005 558 32.0 17.4 27.8
2006 533 32.0 16.7 26.8
2007 520 n/a n/a 30.5
2008 498 31.0 16.1 31.8
2009 491 30.0 16.4 35.6
2010 498 30.0 16.6 37.1
2011 478 30.0 15.9 37
2012 492 30.0 16.4 41.9
2013 504 30.9 16.2 41.7
2014 492 32.0 15.3 38.4
2015 488 30.0 16.2 36.1
2016 476 28.0 17.0 36.6
2017 450 26.4 17.0 37.6
2018 446 25.2 17.6 30.9
2019 461 26.0 17.7 31
2020 466 25.3 18.3 32.4
2021 415 26.3 15.7 38.6
2022 437 25.7 16.9 37.3
2023 458 27.7 16.5 51.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bethlehem Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $688 (7.4%) $8,643 (92.6%) $9,332

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bethlehem Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 491st of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 257th of 1502 Elementary schools
 16.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Bethlehem Elementary)60.369.9
 9.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Alexander County Schools)69.861.2
 8.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Bethlehem Elementary)6365.8
 2.8%
   3rd Grade Reading (Alexander County Schools)6549.5
 15.5%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bethlehem Elementary)77.173.3
 3.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Alexander County Schools)68.258.7
 9.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Bethlehem Elementary)68.670
 1.4%
   4th Grade Reading (Alexander County Schools)59.657.2
 2.4%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Bethlehem Elementary)67.564.5
 3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Alexander County Schools)71.562.5
 9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Bethlehem Elementary)57.152.6
 4.5%
   5th Grade Reading (Alexander County Schools)5550.8
 4.2%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Bethlehem Elementary)72.786.8
 14.1%
   5th Grade Science (Alexander County Schools)7172.8
 1.8%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students461458
 0.7%
African American711
 57.1%
American Indian00
Asian1120
 81.8%
Hispanic2842
 50%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White398367
 7.8%
Two or More Races1618
 12.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients31%51.1%
 20.1%


Schools Near Bethlehem Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Bethlehem Elementary

Students at Bethlehem Elementary are 80% White, 9% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 458 students attended Bethlehem Elementary.

Students who attend Bethlehem Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Alexander Middle
High : Alexander Central High

Bethlehem Elementary ranks 344th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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