The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Science. The lowest is 46% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Cross Traditional Acad
Union Cross Traditional Academy is a public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Kernersville, North Carolina, a rapidly growing suburb northwest of Winston-Salem. The school sits within the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district and draws from a community experiencing substantial residential expansion, with new home subdivisions under construction and new families relocating to the area.
The school's enrollment is about that typical for an elementary school in its grade range, with a fairly even distribution across grades. The student body reflects the demographic composition of the broader region: the enrollment includes roughly equal shares of white and Hispanic students, a substantial share of Black students, and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with significant economic need. The school does not report data on students receiving special education services or English learners, gaps that are typical for schools at this grade level or reflect how the district reports these figures.
On state end-of-grade testing for grades three through five, the school's proficiency results show mixed performance. In science, where the school tested a smaller group of students, proficiency ran substantially higher. In math, proficiency sat at a modest level. In English language arts, proficiency was the lowest of the three subjects, suggesting that reading and writing may be areas where additional support or instructional focus would help. These results provide a baseline; parents may want to ask the school directly about instructional priorities and supports in place for students working below proficiency, particularly in literacy.
Kernersville itself is a mixed suburban town, the largest suburb of Winston-Salem and positioned at the geographic center of the Piedmont Triad. The downtown retains a small-town character with locally owned shops, restaurants, and a brewery clustered on Main Street, and civic anchors including a library with maker spaces, botanical gardens, and parks dot the area. Beyond the compact downtown, the built environment is predominantly suburban and residential, oriented toward car travel. The town is experiencing rapid growth driven by relatively affordable housing compared to other parts of the region, and multiple large-scale residential developments are either under construction or in planning stages. Major employers include FedEx Ground, John Deere Kernersville, Novant Health, and various manufacturing operations, creating a workforce-focused economic base.
The broader district has faced capital project challenges in recent years. In 2022, the school board postponed three bond projects because construction costs had risen sharply, leaving families in some attendance zones without expected new school facilities or renovations on the original timeline. However, the county subsequently provided additional funding to preserve the remaining bond projects, including work at other elementary schools and high schools. The district has also adopted a modified academic calendar, beginning school in early August rather than mid-August, ending in late May instead of early June. This schedule change affects childcare planning, summer programs, and alignment with testing windows for advanced programs.
Union Cross Traditional Academy serves a community in transition, with growing enrollment pressure from new residential development and substantial economic need among its student population. The school's academic performance suggests mixed proficiency levels, strongest in science and more challenging in language arts. For families considering this school, the combination of economic diversity, ongoing community growth, and moderate to lower test proficiency provides a clear picture of the environment and academic context.
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