Kensington Elementary

Summary:

Kensington Elementary is a public elementary school in Waxhaw, North Carolina, serving 1,032 students in grades K-5. As part of the Union County Public Schools district, which is ranked 53 out of 242 districts in the state, Kensington Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in North Carolina.

Kensington Elementary's academic performance is exceptional, with students consistently outperforming state and district averages in End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments for Mathematics, Reading, and Science. In 2023-2024, 83.5% of 3rd graders, 86.4% of 4th graders, and 86.2% of 5th graders were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 62.7%, 56.6%, and 58.1%, respectively. The school's performance is particularly strong in Science, with 91% of 5th graders proficient or better, compared to the state average of 66.2%. Kensington Elementary's diverse student population, with 68.6% White, 6.01% African American, 8.14% Hispanic, 10.56% Asian, and 6.49% two or more races, also demonstrates the school's commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Wesley Chapel Elementary, New Town Elementary, and Marvin Elementary, which also perform well and are ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, Kensington Elementary stands out for its consistently high academic achievement and equitable outcomes across different racial and socioeconomic subgroups. This exceptional performance, combined with the school's diverse student population and low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, makes Kensington Elementary a standout institution in the Union County Public Schools district and the state of North Carolina.


Detail:

Public K-5

 8701 Kensington Drive
       Waxhaw, NC  28173


(704) 290-1500

District: Union County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
60th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,723 Help


Students who attend Kensington Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Cuthbertson Middle
High:    Cuthbertson High

Student/teacher ratio:  17.2 Help
Number of students:  975

Racial breakdown:

White:
67.2%
Asian:
12.4%
Hispanic:
9.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  11.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Kensington Elementary ranks better than 96% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 8th among 29 ranked elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.99. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Kensington Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Union County Public Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (67.2%), Asian (12.4%), Hispanic (9.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 11.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kensington Elementary is 17.2, which is the highest among 30 elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Kensington Elementary employs 56.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kensington Elementary is $7,723, which is the lowest among 30 elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kensington Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Kensington Elementary 60th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Kensington Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Union County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Union County Public Schools 53rd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Kensington Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 82.01 148th 1276 88.4%
2007 88.78 42nd 1293 96.8%
2008 93.73 26th 1324 98.0%
2009 90.43 43rd 1354 96.8%
2010 89.47 42nd 1363 96.9%
2011 90.22 32nd 1381 97.7%
2012 88.86 53rd 1388 96.2%
2013 91.29 91st 1403 93.5%
2014 94.13 50th 1390 96.4%
2015 89.76 88th 1440 93.9%
2016 92.02 59th 1425 95.9%
2017 93.96 33rd 1429 97.7%
2018 90.58 86th 1434 94.0%
2019 93.96 41st 1473 97.2%
2021 95.30 49th 1489 96.7%
2022 93.87 66th 1514 95.6%
2023 94.39 52nd 1502 96.5%
2024 93.99 60th 1505 96.0%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 94.89 4th 97 95.9%
2022 78.92 22nd 133 83.5%
2023 89.31 15th 154 90.3%
2024 72.24 36th 159 77.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 98.28 9th 533 98.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 79.81 73rd 801 90.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.74 29th 1332 97.8%
2022 98.94 3rd 1366 99.8%
2023 92.23 29th 1437 98.0%
2024 91.03 46th 1450 96.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.96 93rd 1405 93.4%
2019 91.21 61st 1424 95.7%
2021 95.04 41st 1440 97.2%
2022 94.25 40th 1458 97.3%
2023 94.86 26th 1459 98.2%
2024 93.00 60th 1455 95.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.52 94th 897 89.5%
2019 92.52 28th 878 96.8%
2021 63.56 142nd 646 78.0%
2022 70.33 104th 634 83.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 65.97 52nd 612 91.5%
2023 67.72 145th 582 75.1%
2024 70.28 60th 669 91.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.76 81st 1413 94.3%
2019 94.86 25th 1430 98.3%
2021 93.14 64th 1444 95.6%
2022 90.46 89th 1464 93.9%
2023 91.03 88th 1461 94.0%
2024 92.76 63rd 1464 95.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 57.96 55th 95 42.1%
2022 60.61 57th 107 46.7%
2023 68.70 43rd 114 62.3%
2024 73.56 25th 130 80.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.39 1st 927 99.9%
2019 97.68 5th 949 99.5%
2021 97.83 14th 896 98.4%
2022 82.04 83rd 927 91.0%
2023 93.73 24th 933 97.4%
2024 88.41 44th 924 95.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.72 108th 851 87.3%
2019 94.99 12th 865 98.6%
2021 97.29 16th 843 98.1%
2022 96.95 11th 893 98.8%
2023 96.72 14th 915 98.5%
2024 90.85 40th 951 95.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Kensington Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.51 185th 1178 84.3%
2019 84.77 115th 1183 90.3%
2021 87.86 91st 1172 92.2%
2022 85.98 104th 1194 91.3%
2023 83.80 135th 1183 88.6%
2024 83.19 148th 1166 87.3%
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.

Kensington 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: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent on FaceBook
Saturday, March 15, 2014

Open Quote excellent academic program and excellent teachers. highly recommended! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Kensington Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2006 302 29 3 14 1 n/a n/a 0 349
2007 485 22 10 15 0 n/a n/a 9 541
2008 486 20 11 15 0 n/a n/a 24 556
2009 575 55 12 20 0 n/a n/a 0 662
2010 598 83 19 18 0 n/a n/a 0 718
2011 607 55 21 31 1 0 22 0 737
2012 624 55 26 44 1 1 18 0 769
2013 657 62 27 57 0 1 14 0 818
2014 797 72 38 79 0 1 19 0 1006
2015 541 52 37 54 0 0 7 0 691
2016 548 53 46 65 1 0 14 0 727
2017 521 57 44 84 0 0 24 0 730
2018 545 55 47 94 0 0 29 0 770
2019 575 64 49 81 0 0 36 0 805
2020 680 55 78 93 0 0 50 0 956
2021 681 61 80 98 0 0 60 0 980
2022 711 59 93 93 0 1 66 0 1023
2023 708 62 109 84 1 1 67 0 1032
2024 655 57 121 90 2 1 49 0 975

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 Kensington Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2006 349 n/a n/a 12.6
2007 541 n/a n/a 7.1
2008 556 32.0 17.4 n/a
2009 662 41.0 16.1 n/a
2010 718 41.1 17.4 12.7
2011 737 43.0 17.1 10.9
2012 769 41.7 18.4 8.5
2013 818 44.6 18.3 8.9
2014 1006 54.0 18.6 7.8
2015 691 42.0 16.4 7.7
2016 727 43.0 16.9 7.3
2017 730 43.0 16.9 7.7
2018 770 46.0 16.7 7.5
2019 805 46.8 17.1 4.2
2020 956 53.6 17.8 4.5
2021 980 58.0 16.8 4.2
2022 1023 57.0 17.9 3.7
2023 1032 59.0 17.4 8.9
2024 975 56.5 17.2 11.4

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 Kensington Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2006 349 n/a n/a 12.6
2007 541 n/a n/a 7.1
2008 556 32.0 17.4 n/a
2009 662 41.0 16.1 n/a
2010 718 41.1 17.4 12.7
2011 737 43.0 17.1 10.9
2012 769 41.7 18.4 8.5
2013 818 44.6 18.3 8.9
2014 1006 54.0 18.6 7.8
2015 691 42.0 16.4 7.7
2016 727 43.0 16.9 7.3
2017 730 43.0 16.9 7.7
2018 770 46.0 16.7 7.5
2019 805 46.8 17.1 4.2
2020 956 53.6 17.8 4.5
2021 980 58.0 16.8 4.2
2022 1023 57.0 17.9 3.7
2023 1032 59.0 17.4 8.9
2024 975 56.5 17.2 11.4

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 Kensington Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $344 (4.5%) $7,379 (95.5%) $7,723

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Kensington 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 41st of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 52nd of 1502 Elementary schools
 0.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kensington Elementary)95.389.1
 6.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)77.477
 0.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Kensington Elementary)87.276.2
 11%
   3rd Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)67.559.9
 7.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kensington Elementary)89.190.8
 1.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)75.375.7
 0.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Kensington Elementary)85.984.8
 1.1%
   4th Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)72.668.3
 4.3%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kensington Elementary)87.282.1
 5.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)77.875.6
 2.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Kensington Elementary)85.272.6
 12.6%
   5th Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)69.761.6
 8.1%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Kensington Elementary)84.688.4
 3.8%
   5th Grade Science (Union County Public Schools)84.978.4
 6.5%
   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 Students8051032
 28.2%
African American6462
 3.1%
American Indian01
Asian49109
 122.4%
Hispanic8184
 3.7%
Pacific Islander01
White575708
 23.1%
Two or More Races3667
 86.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients4.2%8.9%
 4.7%


Schools Near Kensington Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Kensington Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 975 students attended Kensington Elementary.

Students who attend Kensington Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cuthbertson Middle
High : Cuthbertson High

Yes! Kensington Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 60th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools.

Students at Kensington Elementary are 67% White, 12% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 6% African American, 5% Two or more races.


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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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