Bell Fork Elementary

Summary:

Bell Fork Elementary is a public elementary school in Jacksonville, North Carolina, serving 553 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Onslow County Schools district, which is ranked 135 out of 242 school districts in the state.

Bell Fork Elementary has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages on End-of-Grade (EOG) tests, with the largest gaps in 5th grade Reading and Science. The school's performance has declined over the past few years, dropping from a ranking of 693 out of 1,489 North Carolina elementary schools in 2020-2021 to 970 out of 1,505 in 2023-2024. However, the school has shown some strengths in the performance of African American and Hispanic students, who have ranked higher than the state average in several grade levels and subject areas. The school's high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, ranging from 58% to 71% over the past three years, is likely a significant factor contributing to its overall academic challenges.

When compared to nearby elementary schools in the Onslow County district, Bell Fork Elementary generally performs below average, with lower proficiency rates and rankings. Some nearby schools, such as Morton Elementary and Parkwood Elementary, have demonstrated stronger academic performance, suggesting that there may be opportunities for Bell Fork Elementary to learn from their practices and strategies. By addressing the unique needs of its diverse student population and focusing on targeted interventions, Bell Fork Elementary can work towards improving its overall performance and providing a quality education for all its students.


Detail:

Public K-5

 500 Bell Fork Rd
       Jacksonville, NC  28540-6309


(910) 347-4459

District: Onslow County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
970th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,844 Help


Students who attend Bell Fork Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Jacksonville Commons Middle
High:    Northside High

Student/teacher ratio:  15.4 Help
Number of students:  553

Racial breakdown:

African American:
39.4%
Hispanic:
24.6%
White:
22.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  71.2% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Bell Fork Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bell Fork Elementary ranks worse than 64.5% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 12th among 20 ranked elementary schools in the Onslow County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.93. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Bell Fork Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (39.4%), Hispanic (24.6%), White (22.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 71.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Onslow County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bell Fork Elementary is 15.4. 12 elementary schools in the Onslow County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bell Fork Elementary employs 35.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bell Fork Elementary is $9,844, which is the 9th highest among 20 elementary schools in the Onslow County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bell Fork Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Bell Fork Elementary 970th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Bell Fork Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Onslow County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Onslow County Schools 135th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Bell Fork Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 65.27 434th 1276 66.0%
2007 65.15 440th 1293 66.0%
2008 63.39 482nd 1324 63.6%
2009 49.65 768th 1354 43.3%
2010 70.96 379th 1363 72.2%
2011 78.89 222nd 1381 83.9%
2012 74.82 302nd 1388 78.2%
2013 57.85 553rd 1403 60.6%
2014 57.59 580th 1390 58.3%
2015 59.99 572nd 1440 60.3%
2016 42.28 889th 1425 37.6%
2017 49.63 752nd 1429 47.4%
2018 53.80 682nd 1434 52.4%
2019 46.55 826th 1473 43.9%
2021 51.72 693rd 1489 53.5%
2022 39.41 928th 1514 38.7%
2023 39.11 952nd 1502 36.6%
2024 37.93 970th 1505 35.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.28 33rd 86 61.6%
2019 59.15 39th 103 62.1%
2021 58.84 32nd 97 67.0%
2023 78.55 30th 154 80.5%
2024 68.77 45th 159 71.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 39.94 455th 801 43.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.06 453rd 1332 66.0%
2019 55.17 571st 1361 58.0%
2021 65.48 328th 1329 75.3%
2022 38.49 873rd 1366 36.1%
2023 46.93 767th 1437 46.6%
2024 43.32 857th 1450 40.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.98 723rd 1405 48.5%
2019 43.58 848th 1424 40.4%
2021 56.42 583rd 1440 59.5%
2022 43.98 814th 1458 44.2%
2023 45.31 809th 1459 44.6%
2024 40.12 900th 1455 38.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.42 776th 897 13.5%
2019 48.95 385th 878 56.2%
2021 46.16 284th 646 56.0%
2022 34.48 413th 634 34.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 53.63 410th 612 33.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.31 35th 76 53.9%
2019 36.05 50th 72 30.6%
2021 36.26 55th 76 27.6%
2022 47.82 49th 85 42.4%
2023 53.49 39th 81 51.9%
2024 52.07 38th 75 49.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.30 627th 1413 55.6%
2019 49.34 756th 1430 47.1%
2021 46.92 734th 1444 49.2%
2022 34.91 981st 1464 33.0%
2023 32.97 1036th 1461 29.1%
2024 35.63 978th 1464 33.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.22 156th 927 83.2%
2019 65.64 251st 949 73.6%
2021 56.33 278th 896 69.0%
2022 49.04 415th 927 55.2%
2023 51.48 418th 933 55.2%
2024 47.99 454th 924 50.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.54 251st 851 70.5%
2019 57.59 330th 865 61.8%
2021 72.37 151st 843 82.1%
2022 55.22 336th 893 62.4%
2023 43.19 524th 915 42.7%
2024 56.28 375th 951 60.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bell Fork Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.69 626th 1178 46.9%
2019 30.77 922nd 1183 22.1%
2021 39.61 725th 1172 38.1%
2022 43.44 704th 1194 41.0%
2023 38.19 790th 1183 33.2%
2024 33.60 841st 1166 27.9%
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.

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





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

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100%

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Bell Fork Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 327 276 29 28 3 n/a n/a 0 663
1989 360 312 26 37 5 n/a n/a 0 740
1990 433 339 31 39 4 n/a n/a 0 846
1991 484 345 29 50 4 n/a n/a 0 912
1992 528 426 25 56 1 n/a n/a 0 1036
1993 533 381 33 49 2 n/a n/a 0 998
1994 501 420 27 35 2 n/a n/a 16 1001
1995 430 474 40 46 6 n/a n/a 0 996
1996 430 474 40 46 6 n/a n/a 0 996
1997 393 460 33 69 5 n/a n/a 0 960
1998 200 305 14 32 11 n/a n/a -17 545
1999 174 296 6 27 2 n/a n/a 0 505
2000 181 288 7 26 2 n/a n/a 0 504
2001 179 282 10 27 7 n/a n/a 0 505
2002 140 260 11 34 6 n/a n/a 0 451
2003 140 260 11 34 6 n/a n/a 0 451
2004 145 265 8 40 2 n/a n/a 0 460
2005 126 271 4 36 2 n/a n/a 0 439
2006 120 263 2 37 2 n/a n/a 0 424
2007 106 194 9 35 1 n/a n/a 57 402
2008 118 187 7 33 1 n/a n/a 58 404
2009 153 343 16 47 2 n/a n/a 0 561
2010 137 302 17 36 4 n/a n/a 0 496
2011 140 231 11 74 4 0 31 0 491
2012 144 219 10 74 5 4 49 0 505
2013 144 219 8 93 4 5 57 0 530
2014 151 202 6 61 7 6 60 0 493
2015 130 213 4 83 5 2 67 0 504
2016 177 260 5 100 6 2 90 0 640
2017 195 256 6 122 8 2 81 0 670
2018 201 244 6 112 6 3 80 0 652
2019 181 210 6 121 3 5 73 0 599
2020 168 229 10 117 2 3 86 0 615
2021 115 138 9 106 0 2 48 0 418
2022 128 208 6 107 0 2 59 0 510
2023 126 218 5 136 0 1 67 0 553

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 Bell Fork Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 663 30.0 22.1 30
1989 740 44.0 16.8 25.4
1990 846 50.0 16.9 23.3
1991 912 49.0 18.6 21.6
1992 1036 48.0 21.5 23.8
1993 998 52.0 19.2 32.7
1994 1001 53.0 18.9 29.6
1995 996 56.0 17.8 30.5
1996 996 56.0 17.8 30.5
1997 960 53.0 18.1 32
1998 545 42.0 13.0 53
1999 505 42.0 12.0 50.5
2000 504 42.0 12.0 49.2
2001 505 42.0 12.0 54.1
2002 451 41.0 11.0 53
2003 451 41.0 11.0 53
2004 460 41.0 11.2 53.5
2005 439 41.0 10.7 51.9
2006 424 41.0 10.3 53.8
2007 402 n/a n/a 52.8
2008 404 30.5 13.2 64.7
2009 561 38.5 14.6 53.5
2010 496 33.5 14.8 59.7
2011 491 31.5 15.5 58
2012 505 30.9 16.3 58.4
2013 530 33.6 15.7 64.7
2014 493 35.5 13.8 60.6
2015 504 36.0 14.0 62.1
2016 640 38.0 16.8 66.7
2017 670 36.5 18.3 68.5
2018 652 39.0 16.7 63.8
2019 599 39.0 15.3 67.1
2020 615 36.0 17.0 60.3
2021 418 29.0 14.4 62.9
2022 510 37.0 13.7 58
2023 553 35.8 15.4 71.2

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 Bell Fork Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 663 30.0 22.1 30
1989 740 44.0 16.8 25.4
1990 846 50.0 16.9 23.3
1991 912 49.0 18.6 21.6
1992 1036 48.0 21.5 23.8
1993 998 52.0 19.2 32.7
1994 1001 53.0 18.9 29.6
1995 996 56.0 17.8 30.5
1996 996 56.0 17.8 30.5
1997 960 53.0 18.1 32
1998 545 42.0 13.0 53
1999 505 42.0 12.0 50.5
2000 504 42.0 12.0 49.2
2001 505 42.0 12.0 54.1
2002 451 41.0 11.0 53
2003 451 41.0 11.0 53
2004 460 41.0 11.2 53.5
2005 439 41.0 10.7 51.9
2006 424 41.0 10.3 53.8
2007 402 n/a n/a 52.8
2008 404 30.5 13.2 64.7
2009 561 38.5 14.6 53.5
2010 496 33.5 14.8 59.7
2011 491 31.5 15.5 58
2012 505 30.9 16.3 58.4
2013 530 33.6 15.7 64.7
2014 493 35.5 13.8 60.6
2015 504 36.0 14.0 62.1
2016 640 38.0 16.8 66.7
2017 670 36.5 18.3 68.5
2018 652 39.0 16.7 63.8
2019 599 39.0 15.3 67.1
2020 615 36.0 17.0 60.3
2021 418 29.0 14.4 62.9
2022 510 37.0 13.7 58
2023 553 35.8 15.4 71.2

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 Bell Fork Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,331 (13.5%) $8,513 (86.5%) $9,844

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Bell Fork 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 826th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 952nd of 1502 Elementary schools
 7.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Bell Fork Elementary)67.347.9
 19.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Onslow County Schools)60.157.1
 3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Bell Fork Elementary)59.136.5
 22.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (Onslow County Schools)56.546.1
 10.4%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bell Fork Elementary)48.653.3
 4.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Onslow County Schools)52.550.1
 2.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Bell Fork Elementary)5940.2
 18.8%
   4th Grade Reading (Onslow County Schools)56.952.8
 4.1%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Bell Fork Elementary)51.457.5
 6.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Onslow County Schools)55.351.9
 3.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Bell Fork Elementary)50.543.7
 6.8%
   5th Grade Reading (Onslow County Schools)54.246.5
 7.7%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Bell Fork Elementary)67.363.6
 3.7%
   5th Grade Science (Onslow County Schools)74.664.3
 10.3%
   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 Students599553
 7.7%
African American210218
 3.8%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian65
 16.7%
Hispanic121136
 12.4%
Pacific Islander51
 80%
White181126
 30.4%
Two or More Races7367
 8.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients67.1%71.2%
 4.1%


Schools Near Bell Fork Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Bell Fork Elementary

Students at Bell Fork Elementary are 39% African American, 25% Hispanic, 23% White, 12% Two or more races.

Students who attend Bell Fork Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jacksonville Commons Middle
High : Northside High

Bell Fork Elementary ranks 970th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 553 students attended Bell Fork Elementary.


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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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