The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Science. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Eastlawn Elementary
Eastlawn Elementary is a small public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Burlington, North Carolina. The school enrolls a population that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with an overwhelming majority of students from low-income households. About one-half are Hispanic, roughly one-quarter are Black, and the remaining students are split among white, multiracial, and American Indian students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, making this a school with concentrated poverty where economic need is the primary defining characteristic of its enrollment.
The school's recent state testing results show proficiency rates well below what families would expect. In mathematics and English language arts for grades three through five, fewer than one-quarter of tested students scored at or above proficiency levels, based on North Carolina's End-of-Grade assessments. Science proficiency, tested only in a subset of grades, was somewhat higher but still modest. These results suggest that most students are not meeting grade-level benchmarks in core subjects. A parent exploring this school should look into what instructional supports, interventions, or tutoring programs are in place to help students close proficiency gaps.
Eastlawn sits in the Alamance-Burlington school district, which covers Burlington and surrounding communities in the Piedmont region. Burlington itself has experienced measurable economic growth in recent years, anchored by major employers including Laboratory Corporation of America's headquarters, Glen Raven manufacturing, and Cone Health's regional medical center. Downtown has been revived as both a commercial and employment hub, with mixed-use development and new restaurants and retail spaces. The city also has active new residential construction, particularly in subdivisions and multi-family complexes near the hospital. This context matters because it reflects a community with employment and housing activity, even as Eastlawn's enrollment is composed almost entirely of students from economically disadvantaged families.
The school's enrollment is modest and stable, with roughly equal cohorts of fourth and first graders forming the largest grade bands, and smaller cohorts in pre-K and kindergarten. This size makes it manageable for staff to know students individually, though it also means the school has fewer resources spread across diverse student needs.
School and district data on special education rates, English learner populations, attendance, chronic absenteeism, and staff composition were not available. Because Eastlawn serves only early elementary grades, state testing data do not extend to kindergarten and pre-K, so proficiency results reflect grades three through five only. Housing in the school's zip code is broadly affordable relative to national benchmarks, with median home values and rental rates running moderately below state and national averages. A parent or resident considering this area should understand that Eastlawn is a high-poverty school with current test results indicating significant proficiency gaps; whether the school is the right fit depends on what instructional model and support structure the family believes will meet their child's academic needs.
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