Valmead Elementary

Summary:

Valmead Elementary is a public elementary school in Lenoir, North Carolina, serving 287 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Caldwell County Schools district, which is ranked 151 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Valmead Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 50.87% White, 17.42% African American, 19.86% Hispanic, and 9.76% two or more races. However, the school has consistently underperformed academically compared to state and district averages, with significantly lower proficiency rates in mathematics, reading, and science. Additionally, Valmead has a very high percentage of students (98.95%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high concentration of students from low-income families. As a result, the school has been ranked in the bottom quartile of North Carolina elementary schools, with a 1-star or 0-star rating from SchoolDigger for several years.

The academic challenges at Valmead Elementary are particularly concerning, as the school's performance has been declining over the years. The achievement gap is especially pronounced for certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. While Valmead struggles, the nearby schools in the Caldwell County Schools district also perform below state averages, suggesting that the district as a whole may face systemic challenges in providing high-quality education to its students. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive approach involving the school, district, and community stakeholders to improve student outcomes at Valmead Elementary.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

111 Elizabeth Drive NW
Lenoir, NC 28645-3936

(828) 754-9612

District: Caldwell County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1263^rd of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,388

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 275

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.9%

Hispanic:

23.3%

African American:

15.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 98.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Valmead Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Valmead Elementary ranks worse than 83.9% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 12^th among 13 ranked elementary schools in the Caldwell County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.29. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Valmead Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (46.9%), Hispanic (23.3%), African American (15.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 98.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Valmead Elementary is 12.6, which is the 4^th best among 13 elementary schools in the Caldwell County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Valmead Elementary employs 21.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Valmead Elementary is $13,388, which is the 2^nd highest among 13 elementary schools in the Caldwell County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Valmead Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Valmead Elementary 1263^rd of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Valmead Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Caldwell County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Caldwell County Schools 151^st of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Valmead Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	55.37	614^th	1276	51.9%
2007	77.46	211^th	1293	83.7%
2008	51.58	686^th	1324	48.2%
2009	69.91	398^th	1354	70.6%
2010	74.35	306^th	1363	77.5%
2011	72.81	344^th	1381	75.1%
2012	50.06	770^th	1388	44.5%
2013	21.80	1160^th	1403	17.3%
2014	30.01	1006^th	1390	27.6%
2015	29.34	1088^th	1440	24.4%
2016	33.26	1023^rd	1425	28.2%
2017	20.76	1207^th	1429	15.5%
2018	10.93	1328^th	1434	7.4%
2023	3.76	1489^th	1502	0.9%
2024	21.29	1263^rd	1505	16.1%

See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	21.28	1163^rd	1332	12.7%
2023	7.93	1412^th	1437	1.7%
2024	28.20	1164^th	1450	19.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	1.71	1401^st	1405	0.3%
2023	2.32	1458^th	1459	0.1%
2024	23.32	1195^th	1455	17.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	28.36	1105^th	1413	21.8%
2023	9.12	1398^th	1461	4.3%
2024	19.20	1270^th	1464	13.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.57	864^th	915	5.6%
2024	18.04	877^th	951	7.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Valmead Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	1.08	1176^th	1178	0.2%
2023	1.00	1180^th	1183	0.3%
2024	16.76	1073^rd	1166	8.0%

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.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, May 14, 2018

Love the school and the teachers. With the small size of the school, the kids really get the extra attention they deserve. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

I could not possibly think of a better school for my child. The teachers are remarkable! The most caring, loving, kind, and helpful teachers I know. The principal is one of the most amazing women, She goes out of her way to better know her students and their parents. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Valmead Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	233	73	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	306
1989	230	80	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	3	313
1990	220	83	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	303
1991	212	79	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	291
1992	186	74	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	260
1993	215	72	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	287
1994	222	81	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	303
1995	229	94	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	323
1996	229	94	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	323
1997	254	87	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	342
1998	256	89	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	-38	310
1999	210	91	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	305
2000	231	83	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	320
2001	197	67	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	273
2002	149	62	0	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	232
2003	149	62	0	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	232
2004	122	72	0	28	0	n/a	n/a	0	222
2005	121	81	0	27	0	n/a	n/a	0	229
2006	114	82	1	25	0	n/a	n/a	0	222
2007	114	44	2	28	0	n/a	n/a	29	217
2008	139	46	2	23	1	n/a	n/a	25	236
2009	145	62	2	21	1	n/a	n/a	0	231
2010	161	57	2	22	1	n/a	n/a	0	243
2011	147	32	0	31	1	0	13	0	224
2012	181	44	1	38	1	0	11	0	276
2013	157	41	0	36	0	0	13	0	247
2014	120	40	0	31	0	0	21	0	212
2015	110	34	0	26	0	0	27	0	197
2016	105	30	0	27	1	0	18	0	181
2017	106	17	0	22	0	0	19	0	164
2018	115	11	0	24	0	0	15	0	165
2019	92	21	0	31	0	0	14	0	158
2020	68	28	0	27	0	0	16	0	139
2021	85	27	1	27	0	0	10	0	150
2022	89	26	3	23	0	0	20	0	161
2023	146	50	5	57	0	1	28	0	287
2024	129	42	5	64	0	0	35	0	275

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 Valmead Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	306	20.0	15.3	49
1989	313	21.0	14.9	62.3
1990	303	20.0	15.1	60.7
1991	291	23.0	12.6	63.2
1992	260	19.0	13.6	52.7
1993	287	21.0	13.7	52.6
1994	303	22.0	13.8	56.1
1995	323	25.0	12.9	67.5
1996	323	25.0	12.9	67.5
1997	342	26.0	13.2	56.1
1998	310	26.0	11.9	56.6
1999	305	26.0	11.7	67.9
2000	320	26.0	12.3	64.7
2001	273	24.0	11.4	74.7
2002	232	29.0	8.0	0
2003	232	29.0	8.0	0
2004	222	24.0	9.3	91.4
2005	229	24.0	9.5	96.5
2006	222	24.0	9.3	90.1
2007	217	n/a	n/a	106.9
2008	236	22.9	10.3	102.4
2009	231	21.9	10.5	83.5
2010	243	18.4	13.3	88.1
2011	224	17.5	12.7	79.9
2012	276	18.6	14.7	74.3
2013	247	18.8	13.1	89.5
2014	212	15.8	13.3	92.9
2015	197	18.0	10.9	84.8
2016	181	15.0	12.0	97.2
2017	164	14.9	10.9	98.2
2018	165	13.2	12.4	98.2
2019	158	12.1	13.0	98.1
2020	139	13.2	10.5	97.8
2021	150	13.2	11.3	98
2022	161	14.5	11.0	98.1
2023	287	21.4	13.4	99
2024	275	21.7	12.6	98.9

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 Valmead Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	306	20.0	15.3	49
1989	313	21.0	14.9	62.3
1990	303	20.0	15.1	60.7
1991	291	23.0	12.6	63.2
1992	260	19.0	13.6	52.7
1993	287	21.0	13.7	52.6
1994	303	22.0	13.8	56.1
1995	323	25.0	12.9	67.5
1996	323	25.0	12.9	67.5
1997	342	26.0	13.2	56.1
1998	310	26.0	11.9	56.6
1999	305	26.0	11.7	67.9
2000	320	26.0	12.3	64.7
2001	273	24.0	11.4	74.7
2002	232	29.0	8.0	0
2003	232	29.0	8.0	0
2004	222	24.0	9.3	91.4
2005	229	24.0	9.5	96.5
2006	222	24.0	9.3	90.1
2007	217	n/a	n/a	106.9
2008	236	22.9	10.3	102.4
2009	231	21.9	10.5	83.5
2010	243	18.4	13.3	88.1
2011	224	17.5	12.7	79.9
2012	276	18.6	14.7	74.3
2013	247	18.8	13.1	89.5
2014	212	15.8	13.3	92.9
2015	197	18.0	10.9	84.8
2016	181	15.0	12.0	97.2
2017	164	14.9	10.9	98.2
2018	165	13.2	12.4	98.2
2019	158	12.1	13.0	98.1
2020	139	13.2	10.5	97.8
2021	150	13.2	11.3	98
2022	161	14.5	11.0	98.1
2023	287	21.4	13.4	99
2024	275	21.7	12.6	98.9

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 Valmead Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,976 (14.8%)	$11,412 (85.2%)	$13,388

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Valmead 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	158	287	81.6%
African American	21	50	138.1%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	5
Hispanic	31	57	83.9%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	92	146	58.7%
Two or More Races	14	28	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	98.1%	99%	0.9%

Schools Near Valmead Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOG Mathematics (2024)						EOG Reading (2024)						EOG Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Valmead Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Elizabeth Drive NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-9612	275	22	12.6	98.9%	129 (46.9%)	42 (15.3%)	64 (23.3%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (12.7%)	21.3	1263^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	16.1%		3.8	1489^th of 1502 public elementary schools	0.9%	226	66.7	15.2	12.2				53.3	26.1	19.5				31.7		$13,388	$1,976	$11,412
Horizons Elementary	Public	K-5	332 Greenhaven Dr. NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 726-3855	29	14	2.0	89.7%	24 (82.8%)	2 (6.9%)	1 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)								(n/a)															$39,602	$516	$39,086
Davenport A+ School	Public	PK, KG-5	901 College Avenue SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6941	446	33	13.6	99.3%	158 (35.4%)	68 (15.2%)	173 (38.8%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.4%)	36.7	981^st of 1505 public elementary schools	34.8%		40.2	925^th of 1502 public elementary schools	38.4%	56	44.3	55.2	53.2				40.5	52.9	42.9				51.9		$9,609	$958	$8,651
Lower Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	630 Lower Creek Drive NE	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-4022	383	25	15.2	99.2%	279 (72.8%)	31 (8.1%)	33 (8.6%)	6 (1.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.4%)	64.4	498^th of 1505 public elementary schools	66.9%		75.4	317^th of 1502 public elementary schools	78.9%	181	74.6	53.5	50.0				60.3	60.6	54.5				77.3		$8,688	$857	$7,832
Whitnel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1425 Berkley Street SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-6423	267	23	11.8	98.9%	172 (64.4%)	16 (6.0%)	51 (19.1%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.4%)	33.6	1035^th of 1505 public elementary schools	31.2%		11.9	1389^th of 1502 public elementary schools	7.5%	354	64.7	47.1	50.0				41.2	35.3	36.1				61.1		$11,973	$1,307	$10,666
Happy Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1350 Yadkin River Road	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-3496	223	17	13.2	98.7%	199 (89.2%)	5 (2.2%)	9 (4.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.0%)	41.1	910^th of 1505 public elementary schools	39.5%		35.9	991^st of 1502 public elementary schools	34.0%	81	52.4	31.3	55.9	35.3	18.2	21.7	28.6	37.5	50.0	47.1	40.9	65.2	76.5	73.9	$10,168	$1,178	$8,990
Gamewell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2904 Morganton Boulevard	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 758-1193	519	34	15.1	99.4%	367 (70.7%)	45 (8.7%)	43 (8.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (11.6%)	15.2	1359^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.7%		21	1244^th of 1502 public elementary schools	17.2%	115	35.7	33.3	26.7				31.0	38.3	40.7				40.7		$9,383	$1,070	$8,312
Hudson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Roy Coffey Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-3712	633	44	14.4	99.5%	495 (78.2%)	12 (1.9%)	82 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (6.8%)	57.2	631^st of 1505 public elementary schools	58.1%		55.6	656^th of 1502 public elementary schools	56.3%	25	65.3	41.0	67.3				52.0	47.0	51.3				80.5		$9,567	$1,023	$8,544
Oak Hill Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4603 Oak Hill School Rd.	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Oak Hill Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(828) 759-1383	207	13	16.3		176 (85.0%)	6 (2.9%)	8 (3.9%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.8%)	14.5	1367^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.2%					(n/a)	36.8	28.6	23.5	30.0	42.9	38.5	36.8	38.1	29.4	35.0	52.4	53.8	41.2	53.8
Collettsville School	Public	PK, KG-8	4690 Collettsville School Rd	Collettsville	28611	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6913	339	23	14.8	99.1%	314 (92.6%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.8%)	54.3	678^th of 1505 public elementary schools	55.0%		57.6	629^th of 1502 public elementary schools	58.1%	49	51.5	64.9	61.0	61.1	52.6	51.2	42.4	54.1	43.9	44.4	47.4	56.1	78.0	68.3	$9,454	$800	$8,654

Frequently Asked Questions about Valmead Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Valmead Elementary?

Students at Valmead Elementary are 47% White, 23% Hispanic, 15% African American, 13% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Valmead Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 275 students attended Valmead Elementary.

Is Valmead Elementary a good school?

Valmead Elementary ranks in the bottom 16.1% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What district is Valmead Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

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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.