Pathways Elementary

Summary:

Pathways Elementary is a public elementary school in Hillsborough, North Carolina, serving 351 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Orange County Schools district, which is ranked 125 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating.

Pathways Elementary stands out for its strong academic performance, particularly in mathematics and reading, where it consistently outperforms the district and state averages across grades 3-5. For example, in 2023-2024, 71.4% of 3rd-grade students at Pathways Elementary were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 66.2% for the district and 62.7% for the state. However, the school's performance in science for 5th-grade students is lower than the district and state averages. Pathways Elementary also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.5 to 13.1 over the past three school years, which is lower than the surrounding schools.

While Pathways Elementary generally outperforms the other public elementary schools in the immediate vicinity, such as New Hope Elementary, Efland Cheeks Elementary, and Grady Brown Elementary, the nearby charter school, The Expedition School, consistently outperforms Pathways Elementary across all grade levels and subject areas. Additionally, Pathways Elementary's performance for specific student subgroups, such as African American, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic status students, is significantly lower than the school's overall performance and the state averages, and the school's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past decade.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 431 Strouds Creek Road
       Hillsborough, NC  27278


(919) 732-9136

District: Orange County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
715th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,700 Help


Students who attend Pathways Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Orange Middle
High:    Orange High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.1 Help
Number of students:  351

Racial breakdown:

White:
61.8%
African American:
16.0%
Hispanic:
13.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  53.3% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pathways Elementary ranks better than 52.5% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 3rd among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Orange County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.03. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Pathways Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (61.8%), African American (16%), Hispanic (13.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 53.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pathways Elementary is 13.1. 3 elementary schools in the Orange County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Pathways Elementary employs 26.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pathways Elementary is $14,700, which is the highest among 7 elementary schools in the Orange County Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pathways Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Pathways Elementary 715th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Pathways 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:


Orange County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Orange County Schools 125th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Pathways Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 68.78 359th 1276 71.9%
2007 71.40 317th 1293 75.5%
2008 69.85 352nd 1324 73.4%
2009 69.68 407th 1354 69.9%
2010 55.43 692nd 1363 49.2%
2011 57.29 657th 1381 52.4%
2012 63.25 543rd 1388 60.9%
2013 59.15 534th 1403 61.9%
2014 75.04 312th 1390 77.6%
2015 59.68 578th 1440 59.9%
2016 63.75 501st 1425 64.8%
2017 54.41 675th 1429 52.8%
2018 38.45 946th 1434 34.0%
2019 43.52 867th 1473 41.1%
2021 31.29 1008th 1489 32.3%
2022 42.15 880th 1514 41.9%
2023 45.28 841st 1502 44.0%
2024 52.03 715th 1505 52.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 62.09 194th 801 75.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.54 1261st 1332 5.3%
2019 21.55 1173rd 1361 13.8%
2021 21.63 1111th 1329 16.4%
2022 46.32 726th 1366 46.9%
2023 24.69 1178th 1437 18.0%
2024 30.91 1103rd 1450 23.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.06 1009th 1405 28.2%
2019 37.86 940th 1424 34.0%
2021 35.11 908th 1440 36.9%
2022 51.48 696th 1458 52.3%
2023 53.55 669th 1459 54.1%
2024 50.91 700th 1455 51.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.89 703rd 897 21.6%
2019 28.74 692nd 878 21.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 52.63 421st 612 31.2%
2021 26.89 438th 494 11.3%
2023 49.45 438th 582 24.7%
2024 48.91 484th 669 27.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.94 880th 1413 37.7%
2019 49.48 750th 1430 47.6%
2021 28.87 1008th 1444 30.2%
2022 35.96 960th 1464 34.4%
2023 38.83 937th 1461 35.9%
2024 50.19 742nd 1464 49.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.66 681st 927 26.5%
2019 45.44 514th 949 45.8%
2021 17.54 849th 896 5.2%
2022 29.85 701st 927 24.4%
2023 14.89 881st 933 5.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.28 844th 851 0.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pathways Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.55 899th 1178 23.7%
2019 40.86 755th 1183 36.2%
2021 22.53 983rd 1172 16.1%
2022 31.84 894th 1194 25.1%
2023 35.93 829th 1183 29.9%
2024 43.88 703rd 1166 39.7%
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.

Pathways Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, March 5, 2017

Open Quote Great school with awesome teachers! We are very blessed to have our kids attend Pathways. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pathways Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 358 109 2 14 2 n/a n/a 0 485
2003 358 109 2 14 2 n/a n/a 0 485
2004 403 106 1 20 2 n/a n/a 0 532
2005 444 100 2 21 5 n/a n/a 0 572
2006 440 82 3 17 6 n/a n/a 0 548
2007 345 63 2 13 0 n/a n/a 18 441
2008 357 63 1 17 n/a n/a n/a 15 453
2009 361 78 1 29 0 n/a n/a 0 469
2010 364 88 1 37 0 n/a n/a 0 490
2011 356 62 1 38 0 0 15 0 472
2012 375 67 1 51 0 0 20 0 514
2013 348 71 0 46 0 0 23 0 488
2014 302 52 0 34 0 0 31 0 419
2015 295 60 0 43 2 0 28 0 428
2016 277 65 0 47 2 0 29 0 420
2017 267 61 0 55 0 0 30 0 413
2018 273 49 0 57 0 0 26 0 405
2019 281 64 1 51 1 0 33 0 431
2020 259 59 3 52 0 0 42 0 415
2021 223 62 3 52 0 0 32 0 372
2022 203 52 2 38 0 0 31 0 326
2023 217 56 4 46 0 0 28 0 351

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 Pathways Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 485 35.0 13.9 31.3
2003 485 35.0 13.9 31.3
2004 532 35.0 15.2 30.3
2005 572 36.0 15.9 28.8
2006 548 36.0 15.2 20.1
2007 441 n/a n/a 30.3
2008 453 35.0 12.9 22.8
2009 469 35.9 13.1 29.9
2010 490 36.2 13.5 39.4
2011 472 38.5 12.2 41.7
2012 514 37.2 13.8 43.2
2013 488 36.5 13.3 43.2
2014 419 31.4 13.3 46.5
2015 428 33.0 12.9 48.4
2016 420 33.0 12.7 47.4
2017 413 36.0 11.4 46.2
2018 405 35.3 11.4 41.7
2019 431 33.8 12.7 39
2020 415 33.8 12.2 39.5
2021 372 32.8 11.3 36
2022 326 31.0 10.5 45.7
2023 351 26.7 13.1 53.3

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 Pathways Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 485 35.0 13.9 31.3
2003 485 35.0 13.9 31.3
2004 532 35.0 15.2 30.3
2005 572 36.0 15.9 28.8
2006 548 36.0 15.2 20.1
2007 441 n/a n/a 30.3
2008 453 35.0 12.9 22.8
2009 469 35.9 13.1 29.9
2010 490 36.2 13.5 39.4
2011 472 38.5 12.2 41.7
2012 514 37.2 13.8 43.2
2013 488 36.5 13.3 43.2
2014 419 31.4 13.3 46.5
2015 428 33.0 12.9 48.4
2016 420 33.0 12.7 47.4
2017 413 36.0 11.4 46.2
2018 405 35.3 11.4 41.7
2019 431 33.8 12.7 39
2020 415 33.8 12.2 39.5
2021 372 32.8 11.3 36
2022 326 31.0 10.5 45.7
2023 351 26.7 13.1 53.3

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 Pathways Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,138 (7.7%) $13,561 (92.3%) $14,700

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Pathways 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 867th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 841st of 1502 Elementary schools
 2.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pathways Elementary)5464.2
 10.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Orange County Schools)55.756.5
 0.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Pathways Elementary)55.653.8
 1.8%
   3rd Grade Reading (Orange County Schools)52.148.8
 3.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pathways Elementary)50.769.6
 18.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Orange County Schools)55.656.5
 0.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Pathways Elementary)47.846.4
 1.4%
   4th Grade Reading (Orange County Schools)53.353.8
 0.5%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pathways Elementary)60.855.2
 5.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Orange County Schools)6160.7
 0.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Pathways Elementary)56.835.8
 21%
   5th Grade Reading (Orange County Schools)54.151.1
 3%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Pathways Elementary)67.640.3
 27.3%
   5th Grade Science (Orange County Schools)70.661.9
 8.7%
   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 Students431351
 18.6%
African American6456
 12.5%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian14
 300%
Hispanic5146
 9.8%
Pacific Islander00
White281217
 22.8%
Two or More Races3328
 15.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients39%53.3%
 14.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Pathways Elementary

Students at Pathways Elementary are 62% White, 16% African American, 13% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Pathways Elementary ranks 715th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Pathways Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Orange Middle
High : Orange High

In the 2022-23 school year, 351 students attended Pathways 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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