The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 53% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Speas Elementary
Speas Elementary is a school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Winston-Salem, with an enrollment drawn almost entirely from families in economic hardship. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is diverse by race and ethnicity, with Black and Hispanic students each representing roughly a third of the population, white students about a quarter, and smaller numbers of Asian students and those identifying as multiracial.
The school's academic results on North Carolina's End-of-Grade tests show a mixed picture. In math, measured among third through fifth graders, proficiency sits at a level slightly above half of students tested. In English language arts for the same grades, proficiency is lower, at about half. Science results are stronger, with two-thirds of students meeting proficiency. These represent a single year of testing; longer-term trends were not available. The school serves only early elementary grades, so state graduation and chronic absenteeism data do not apply.
The enrollment is moderate-sized for an elementary school in this grade band. The kindergarten through fifth-grade population is fairly distributed across grades, with the largest cohorts in the first and second grades. Pre-kindergarten enrollment is minimal.
The broader context is Winston-Salem, a mid-sized North Carolina city that has rebuilt itself over the past couple of decades around medical research, advanced manufacturing, and adaptive reuse of historic downtown real estate. The downtown and Innovation Quarter are walkable and vibrant, though neighborhoods away from the center lack sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure. Major employers include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Novant Health, Wake Forest University, and Reynolds American. Median home prices are moderate relative to the nation, and rental costs have risen recently. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district is large and has navigated a significant capital bond shortfall in recent years; the county committed additional funds to preserve renovation projects in 2023, though three bond projects remain postponed.
The school is located on Polo Road in a zip code where housing values have moved modestly upward year over year. Families who purchase in this area can expect monthly homeownership costs in line with regional norms, though rent remains the more accessible option for many. The neighborhood sits in a part of the city where both working families and deeper poverty coexist.
A parent considering Speas should understand this is a Title I school serving a population almost entirely experiencing economic need, with state test results showing competency below or at the midpoint for math and reading, and stronger performance in science. The school carries no apparent magnet or charter designation and operates as a regular public elementary school within the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district. For families in the attendance area, Speas is the assigned neighborhood school. For those evaluating alternatives, a parent may want to look further into the school's curriculum, classroom environment, and support services for early literacy and numeracy, as state testing alone does not capture the full picture of what a young student experiences day to day.
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