Ballentine Elementary

Summary:

Ballentine Elementary is a public elementary school in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, serving 679 students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. As part of the Wake County Schools district, Ballentine consistently ranks among the top 15% of North Carolina elementary schools, with exceptional academic performance, particularly in mathematics and science.

Ballentine Elementary's students excel on state standardized tests, with 5th-graders achieving an 85.1% proficiency rate in science, far surpassing the state and district averages. However, the school faces equity concerns, as its Hispanic and English Language Learner (ELL) students perform below their peers. Ballentine's relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, combined with its higher per-student spending and lower student-to-teacher ratio, suggest the school benefits from a strong resource base and an affluent student population, which may contribute to its academic success.

When compared to nearby schools in the Wake County Schools district, Ballentine Elementary stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently outperforming its peers on state assessments. Schools like Holly Ridge Elementary and Willow Springs Elementary also demonstrate exceptional academic performance, indicating a strong educational system within the district. Addressing the equity gaps and ensuring equitable access to resources across the district will be crucial for the continued success of Ballentine Elementary and the broader Wake County Schools system.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1651 North McLaurin Lane
       Fuquay Varina, NC  27526


(919) 557-1120

District: Wake County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
165th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,151 Help


Students who attend Ballentine Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Holly Grove Middle
High:    Fuquay-Varina High
    Wake Early College of Health and Science
    Wake STEM Early College High School
    Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  13.4 Help
Number of students:  711

Racial breakdown:

White:
64.0%
Hispanic:
21.4%
African American:
7.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  28.1% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Ballentine Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ballentine Elementary ranks better than 89% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 25th among 115 ranked elementary schools in the Wake County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.15. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64%), Hispanic (21.4%), African American (7.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 28.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ballentine Elementary is 13.4. 66 elementary schools in the Wake County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ballentine Elementary employs 53 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ballentine Elementary is $10,151, which is the 52nd highest among 115 elementary schools in the Wake County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ballentine Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Ballentine Elementary 165th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Ballentine Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Wake County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Wake County Schools 59th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Ballentine Elementary.

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Rank History for Ballentine Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 70.60 329th 1276 74.2%
2007 78.23 199th 1293 84.6%
2008 77.19 240th 1324 81.9%
2009 72.47 346th 1354 74.4%
2010 62.07 572nd 1363 58.0%
2011 67.71 456th 1381 67.0%
2012 69.08 425th 1388 69.4%
2013 82.85 192nd 1403 86.3%
2014 69.58 400th 1390 71.2%
2015 73.17 358th 1440 75.1%
2016 70.08 391st 1425 72.6%
2017 74.59 331st 1429 76.8%
2018 70.52 392nd 1434 72.7%
2019 62.46 534th 1473 63.7%
2021 81.10 229th 1489 84.6%
2022 83.11 206th 1514 86.4%
2023 83.08 195th 1502 87.0%
2024 86.15 165th 1505 89.0%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.77 363rd 421 13.8%
2019 17.14 479th 497 3.6%
2021 34.53 248th 385 35.6%
2022 48.30 208th 485 57.1%
2023 40.47 290th 514 43.6%
2024 57.68 158th 533 70.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 73.58 106th 801 86.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.50 1030th 1332 22.7%
2019 19.64 1210th 1361 11.1%
2021 18.78 1167th 1329 12.2%
2022 46.59 720th 1366 47.3%
2023 50.62 704th 1437 51.0%
2024 63.58 428th 1450 70.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.70 416th 1405 70.4%
2019 64.72 475th 1424 66.6%
2021 77.48 263rd 1440 81.7%
2022 81.15 214th 1458 85.3%
2023 78.25 242nd 1459 83.4%
2024 85.69 143rd 1455 90.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 39.58 533rd 878 39.3%
2022 81.38 47th 634 92.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 59.62 299th 612 51.1%
2021 66.68 163rd 494 67.0%
2023 59.05 303rd 582 47.9%
2024 61.43 280th 669 58.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.42 378th 1413 73.2%
2019 59.12 568th 1430 60.3%
2021 81.25 214th 1444 85.2%
2022 82.11 197th 1464 86.5%
2023 83.98 168th 1461 88.5%
2024 83.83 178th 1464 87.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 60.64 282nd 927 69.6%
2023 71.11 192nd 933 79.4%
2024 73.58 156th 924 83.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.25 745th 851 12.5%
2019 21.58 771st 865 10.9%
2021 44.90 422nd 843 49.9%
2022 59.87 275th 893 69.2%
2023 50.69 426th 915 53.4%
2024 48.55 473rd 951 50.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ballentine Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.03 158th 1178 86.6%
2019 73.68 266th 1183 77.5%
2021 81.75 163rd 1172 86.1%
2022 80.26 185th 1194 84.5%
2023 83.08 144th 1183 87.8%
2024 85.13 118th 1166 89.9%
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.

Ballentine 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: 2.3)
22%

11%

0%

11%

56%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Open Quote Great school! Great Teachers! Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, June 8, 2019

Open Quote Leadership is terrible. No sense of moral or community. My child is not receiving the same education as she did at another school before being rezoned. WCPSS needs to look into the reasons why #'s are so low and why so many families chose to go elsewhere. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Open Quote We are pulling our child out of this school after a year of horror. We are also seeking legal consultation after our child was ostracized, out-casted and labeled by a first grade teacher who needs to lose all rights of teaching. Many people in the community will learn more about the experience we had. We are parents who will fight for not only our child but, to ensure this does not happen to another child. We wish we would have never trusted this school with our child. Horrible school, cliquish parents and racist administration. The superintendent and school board are aware...... Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 11, 2017

Open Quote Military like atmosphere is accurate. Not a good place for school aged children. Very unimpressed with the principal. It is time for the board to make some changes. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 11, 2017

Open Quote teachers bully the children and antagonize them to act out. one case told students that if they couldnt learn something they were mentally disabled. THe bullying form teachers and lack of concern or action from admin shows in thier falling test scores, and lack of registrations. In an overcrowded system, this school actually had a track taken away! after speaking to other parents, found one moved her children due to test score manipulations and unproffesional behavior. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Open Quote The principal is the main reason this school's enrollment has declined since she was hired. It has been like a mass exodus. She just does not seem to care about anything the parents have to say. She does a fabulous job of protecting a select few teachers to the point of it being almost criminal what they get away with. Those of us in this community with similar aged children, just give up with her and are and have moved our kids elsewhere. This principal and her 'gang' of favored teachers are like a brick wall. You will NOT be heard and your certainly will be dismissed very bluntly. No emotion. Like a robot. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, October 16, 2015

Open Quote I am not sure what the other reviewer is talking about. I have found the teachers to be very helpful, upbeat and compassionate. It is a small school, so we don't have all the resources other schools have, but the teachers seem to collaborate often to find the best solutions to problems. Issues around testing and conforming are a problem that can only be addressed by changing the county's obsession with rankings and results, I don't think that is a principal mandate. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Open Quote Principal does not allow teachers to think outside the box. It is her way or no way. School is run like a military base instead of an elementary school. You rarely ever see teachers smiling. Very gloomy place to be. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ballentine Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 249 105 2 16 0 n/a n/a 0 372
2003 249 105 2 16 0 n/a n/a 0 372
2004 345 106 3 15 1 n/a n/a 0 470
2005 399 102 2 77 2 n/a n/a 0 582
2006 452 111 6 112 4 n/a n/a 0 685
2007 516 76 9 124 6 n/a n/a 20 751
2008 515 58 8 147 2 n/a n/a 26 756
2009 541 83 8 154 3 n/a n/a 0 789
2010 411 74 7 172 4 n/a n/a 0 668
2011 400 33 7 196 2 0 15 0 653
2012 407 30 8 197 2 0 13 0 657
2013 384 34 9 142 2 0 6 0 577
2014 333 29 4 135 1 0 10 0 512
2015 310 21 2 124 1 0 4 0 462
2016 300 26 7 130 0 0 6 0 469
2017 362 32 11 140 0 0 7 0 552
2018 370 43 13 137 3 0 15 0 581
2019 421 48 16 146 3 0 15 0 649
2020 465 44 17 160 4 0 17 0 707
2021 414 45 13 130 4 0 22 0 628
2022 438 62 9 138 3 0 22 0 672
2023 429 62 21 138 2 0 27 0 679
2024 455 55 20 152 2 0 27 0 711

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 Ballentine Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 372 26.0 14.3 23.1
2003 372 26.0 14.3 23.1
2004 470 26.0 18.1 22.8
2005 582 35.0 16.6 27.5
2006 685 50.0 13.7 28.3
2007 751 n/a n/a 25.6
2008 756 54.9 13.8 n/a
2009 789 56.3 14.0 n/a
2010 668 43.7 15.2 34.4
2011 653 44.2 14.7 33.1
2012 657 43.8 14.9 32.6
2013 577 40.5 14.2 31.7
2014 512 38.0 13.4 34.6
2015 462 36.0 12.8 32
2016 469 32.0 14.6 37.7
2017 552 36.3 15.1 31.5
2018 581 41.2 14.0 30.5
2019 649 43.3 14.9 28.2
2020 707 47.7 14.7 26
2021 628 46.0 13.6 19.4
2022 672 45.0 14.9 18.2
2023 679 50.1 13.5 32.1
2024 711 53.0 13.4 28.1

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 Ballentine Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 372 26.0 14.3 23.1
2003 372 26.0 14.3 23.1
2004 470 26.0 18.1 22.8
2005 582 35.0 16.6 27.5
2006 685 50.0 13.7 28.3
2007 751 n/a n/a 25.6
2008 756 54.9 13.8 n/a
2009 789 56.3 14.0 n/a
2010 668 43.7 15.2 34.4
2011 653 44.2 14.7 33.1
2012 657 43.8 14.9 32.6
2013 577 40.5 14.2 31.7
2014 512 38.0 13.4 34.6
2015 462 36.0 12.8 32
2016 469 32.0 14.6 37.7
2017 552 36.3 15.1 31.5
2018 581 41.2 14.0 30.5
2019 649 43.3 14.9 28.2
2020 707 47.7 14.7 26
2021 628 46.0 13.6 19.4
2022 672 45.0 14.9 18.2
2023 679 50.1 13.5 32.1
2024 711 53.0 13.4 28.1

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 Ballentine Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $476 (4.7%) $9,675 (95.3%) $10,151

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ballentine 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 534th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 195th of 1502 Elementary schools
 23.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ballentine Elementary)64.483.8
 19.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)69.467.4
 2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Ballentine Elementary)67.872.6
 4.8%
   3rd Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)6658.7
 7.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ballentine Elementary)64.372.2
 7.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)6565
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Ballentine Elementary)63.567
 3.5%
   4th Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)63.265.7
 2.5%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ballentine Elementary)61.873.4
 11.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wake County Schools)6665.6
 0.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Ballentine Elementary)61.862.1
 0.3%
   5th Grade Reading (Wake County Schools)60.659.1
 1.5%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Ballentine Elementary)69.674.2
 4.6%
   5th Grade Science (Wake County Schools)71.370.6
 0.7%
   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 Students649679
 4.6%
African American4862
 29.2%
American Indian32
 33.3%
Asian1621
 31.3%
Hispanic146138
 5.5%
Pacific Islander00
White421429
 1.9%
Two or More Races1527
 80%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients28.2%32.1%
 3.9%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Ballentine Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 711 students attended Ballentine Elementary.

Ballentine Elementary ranks 165th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Ballentine Elementary are 64% White, 21% Hispanic, 8% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.


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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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