The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in Math. The lowest is 30% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Charles W Mccrary Elementary
Charles W. McCrary Elementary in Asheboro serves grades kindergarten through fifth, drawing an enrollment that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school sits in a mid-sized Piedmont city anchored by manufacturing, healthcare, and education, where a major battery plant investment nearby is reshaping the local labor market and spurring rapid residential growth.
The student body reflects Asheboro's economic reality. Nearly the entire enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating families facing material hardship. The racial and ethnic composition is roughly evenly divided between Hispanic and white students, with a substantial Black enrollment and smaller numbers of multiracial and Asian students. Enrollment in the school is moderate for an elementary with this grade span.
State testing results from the most recent year show proficiency in the lower range. In mathematics, where a substantial portion of students were tested, less than half met proficiency. In English language arts, proficiency fell below one-third. Science proficiency also sat in the low-to-mid thirties. These results place McCrary at the bottom quartile relative to districts in Randolph County when proficiency across tested subjects is averaged together. A parent may want to look into the school's instructional approaches and available supports, and discuss what the school is doing to move these numbers with administrators or staff directly.
The school is part of Asheboro City Schools, a district now in motion with several parent-relevant changes underway. A major renovation of Asheboro High School completed in early 2023, moving students back into the permanently upgraded building. South Asheboro Middle School is currently undergoing a multiphase renovation expected to finish in summer 2027, which will affect middle-school families. The district has opened a Global Innovation Center aimed at district-wide creative and technical learning, paired with a Welcome Center for family services. It has also built a teacher-pipeline pathway called TEACH in partnership with Randolph Community College and UNC Greensboro, offering high school students a dual-enrollment route into teaching careers.
Asheboro itself is experiencing rapid change. The nearby Toyota Battery Manufacturing plant, which began operating in June 2025, is expected to draw thousands of new workers to the region and reshape the housing market. The city has already approved major new residential developments and is fielding record numbers of zoning requests. Downtown Asheboro has drawn significant private investment since 2020 through a Main Street program, revitalizing Sunset Avenue with independent restaurants, coffee shops, and locally owned retail. A restored 1930s theatre, public library, farmer's market, and recreation center anchor a walkable downtown core, though the surrounding area remains car-dependent. Most neighborhoods are a mix of older bungalow and ranch-style homes near the center with conventional suburban subdivisions on the edges.
Housing in the Asheboro area is notably affordable relative to the state and national median, which may appeal to families relocating for work at the battery plant or other manufacturers. Rent is similarly modest. The local unemployment rate tracks with national averages, and median household income aligns with national figures.
McCrary's state testing results are a clear starting point for any parent considering the school. The school serves a population facing economic hardship with very high rates of free and reduced lunch. Whether the school's current approaches are moving proficiency is a question worth asking directly of the school and the district. Beyond academics, the broader context of Asheboro's rapid growth and the district's visible investment in facilities and innovation programming may matter to families relocating to the area or already settled there.
See more original research from School Decision →