The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 56% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lead Mine Elementary
Lead Mine Elementary is a small, neighborhood elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Raleigh's 27615 zip code. The school sits in an established residential area where the housing market has appreciated modestly and rental costs are moderate relative to the region, attracting families across a range of income levels.
The student body is diverse in composition. Roughly half of students are white, with the remainder split among Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial families. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, marking an economically mixed school population. The enrollment is stable and typical for a neighborhood elementary school of this grade band, with each grade holding between fifty and seventy-five students. The school does not report counts for students with IEPs or English learners, a data gap common in state-level reporting, so parents may want to ask the school directly about the availability of services for students needing special education or language support.
State test results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates that sit below the midpoint of typical performance. In math, about two-thirds of third through fifth graders tested met proficiency. In English language arts, about half did. Science proficiency was similar to ELA, though the science test was changed that year, making year-over-year comparisons difficult. The school tested a smaller sample in science than in reading and math, which is expected since science testing at this grade level is less frequent in North Carolina. These numbers suggest students are developing foundational skills, but a meaningful share are not yet proficient in key subjects. Parents may want to discuss with the school what supports exist for students working toward grade-level standards, particularly in reading and language arts where the proficiency rate was lowest.
Wake County Schools has undertaken substantial changes to early literacy instruction district-wide, adopting the Science of Reading approach and requiring all elementary teachers to complete specialized training. All PreK-5 teachers in the district finished this professional development by spring 2024, and the district now evaluates curriculum and materials through a science-of-reading lens. This systemwide shift in reading pedagogy affects every elementary school and is meant to improve how phonics, fluency, and comprehension are taught.
The school operates in Raleigh, a mid-sized state capital with a dense downtown anchored by civic institutions, a tech-driven economy (including NC State University, IBM, Cisco, Red Hat, and nearby Research Triangle Park), and a broad tax base. The city is experiencing significant growth and development, with major mixed-use projects reshaping downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Housing values in the school's zip code have appreciated steadily, and both mortgages and rental costs reflect the region's economic strength and tight housing supply.
Wake County Schools itself is in an active building and reconfiguration cycle. Voters approved a substantial school construction bond in November 2022, funding five new elementary, middle, and high schools plus renovations to seven existing schools, paid for via a property tax increase. The district has also undertaken large-scale student reassignments to accommodate growth and open new schools. A November 2024 reassignment plan moved students across multiple schools, and another plan approved in November 2025 takes effect in 2026-27 and affects schools across the county, including some in Raleigh. The November 2025 plan includes stability transfer options for most affected families. Since reassignment risk is one of the biggest practical unknowns for families in growing Wake County neighborhoods, parents choosing this area should check the district's current attendance maps and ask the school about the likelihood of reassignment in coming years.
In summer 2025, the Board of Education also adopted a district-wide cellphone policy effective immediately in 2025-26: elementary and middle school students must keep phones silenced and stored away throughout the school day. A December 2025 revision tightened the rule further, requiring phones to be fully off and smartwatches disabled, not just put away. This is a visible daily-life change for families used to different school practices.
Lead Mine Elementary fits families seeking a neighborhood school with real economic and ethnic diversity, in a strong housing market with good access to Raleigh's job base and civic life. The test scores suggest a school where roughly half of students are on grade level in key subjects, which may be appropriate for some families and a concern for others depending on their child's needs and pace. The school's connection to the district's science-of-reading initiative is a genuine strength in early literacy instruction. The combination of active school growth, ongoing reassignments, and a changing policy environment makes it worth having a detailed conversation with the school and district about what the next several years may bring.
See more original research from School Decision →