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Best Elementary Schools in Winston Salem, NC (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Winston Salem, NC, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Winston Salem, NC rankings: Elementary Schools
Winston Salem, NC elementary schools ranked
How Winston Salem, NC's elementary schools compare
A: 8B: 3C: 7D: 7F: 8
33% of the 33 ranked elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC earn an A or B (8 A grades, 3 B, 7 C, 7 D, 8 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 30 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (91% here, 70% nationally), and 20 exceed it. On average 51% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 33% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: The Arts Based School (73% against 37%, A), Kimberley Park Elementary (46% against 12%, D+), Diggs Latham Elementary (49% against 20%, C-), Cook Literacy Model School (45% against 16%, D+), Jefferson Elementary (77% against 53%, A).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 10): Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (6), Davidson County Schools (3).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Meadowlark Elementary (831 students, A+, #3), Kimmel Farm Elementary (814 students, C, #12), Speas Elementary (767 students, B-, #10).
Of the top 25, 7 are magnet schools and 2 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC that are not ranked
3 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Special-purpose schools (1)
Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.
- F Childrens Center, Winston Salem
Fully online schools (1)
Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.
- D Virtual Academy, Winston Salem
Not yet graded (1)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- The Special Childrens School, Winston Salem
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC, as grouped on its schools page; the North Carolina ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC
What is the best elementary school in Winston Salem, NC?
Sherwood Forest Elementary in Winston Salem ranks first among the 33 ranked elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC with a SchoolGrade of A+, 88% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 72%.
How are elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Winston Salem, NC have?
SchoolGrade grades 36 public elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC; 33 are ranked here and 3 are listed as not ranked.