Top Rankings
Richmond County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 12 public elementary schools serving 4,421 students in Richmond County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Richmond County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
6,498 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
370 Teachers
71,767 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Richmond County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has decreased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#229 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)44%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)81%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.72
% American Indian
3%
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
15%
22%
% Black
36%
24%
% White
37%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,302 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,136 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$80 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$79 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,302
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,136
$11,592
Best Richmond County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mineral Springs Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1426 Green Lake Rd
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7915
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7915
Gr: PK-5 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
Fairview Heights Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
104 Hamilton Ave
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7900
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7900
Gr: PK-5 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #33.
Ellerbe Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
128 W Ballard Street
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7925
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7925
Gr: 6-8 | 182 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #44.
L J Bell Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
442 Hawthorne Ave
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9834
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9834
Gr: PK-5 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #55.
East Rockingham Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
154 Chalk Road
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 557-0900
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 557-0900
Gr: K-5 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #66.
Rockingham Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
415 Wall Street
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9827
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9827
Gr: 6-8 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #77.
Hamlet Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1406 Mcdonald Ave
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7903
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7903
Gr: 6-8 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #88.
Monroe Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
400 Monroe Ave
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7907
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 582-7907
Gr: PK-5 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #99.
Cordova Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
194 Church St
Cordova, NC 28330
(910) 997-9839
Cordova, NC 28330
(910) 997-9839
Gr: 6-8 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1010.
West Rockingham Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
271 W Us 74 Hwy
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9802
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9802
Gr: PK-5 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1111.
Washington Street Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
566 E Washington St Ext
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9836
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9836
Gr: PK-5 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1212.
Ashley Chapel Educational Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
377 Mizpah Road
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9800
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-9800
Gr: 6-12 | 59 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
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