The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lee Woodard Elementary
Lee Woodard Elementary is a small public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Black Creek, a quiet rural-suburban town in eastern Wilson County. The school enrolls a small group of students, with a mix of grade levels that skews slightly toward the mid-grades. The student body is economically fragile: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a sign of the area's low household income and limited local employment diversity.
The school's student composition mirrors Wilson County's demographic reality. White students make up a plurality of enrollment, with Hispanic and Black students each representing a substantial share. No Asian students or Native American students are enrolled, and a small share of students identify as multiracial. The school is not identified as a magnet or charter school; it is a standard neighborhood school serving the families in Black Creek directly.
Academically, Lee Woodard's proficiency rates place it in a range that reflects broader patterns in rural eastern North Carolina. On the most recent state testing in mathematics and English language arts, roughly three in five students demonstrated proficiency as measured by the North Carolina End-of-Grade tests. In science, where testing covers a smaller group of students (only the tested grade levels), proficiency sits at a similar level. These are not strong outcomes; a parent looking at Lee Woodard should understand that the school's test performance is below what many North Carolina schools achieve. State testing data does not yet provide year-over-year comparison, so the direction of change cannot be determined from available data.
The school's environment is rural and anchored in a specific place. Black Creek itself is very small and growing slowly; it has no public transit, and residents depend entirely on personal vehicles. Most people own their homes, though property values in the area run below the state average. The town center is modest, with key civic amenities including the Black Creek branch library and a town park, but civic life and commercial activity are limited. For families seeking a small-town school with roots in a stable residential community, Lee Woodard fits that role. For families seeking robust test performance or a wealth of enrichment programs, the data does not suggest this is the place.
Wilson County Schools, the district that operates the school, is navigating significant facilities transitions. The county permanently closed two schools in 2022 and is currently rebuilding Frederick Douglass Elementary in nearby Elm City, a long-term capital project financed through local borrowing. That investment signals commitment to some parts of the district, though it also reflects the reality that school capacity and resources remain under pressure. Property revaluation in 2024 led to rising school-related tax obligations for homeowners across the county, a cost-of-ownership consideration for anyone relocating to the area.
A parent considering Lee Woodard should plan to investigate the school's specific offerings, classroom culture, and leadership approach directly with the school, since program and staffing details were not available in the data. The proficiency rates suggest a school where many students are working below grade level, which raises questions about intervention, tutoring, and support systems that matter deeply to families. Given the demographics and economics involved, parents may also want to understand what community resources and partnerships the school has built to support students living in economically constrained circumstances. The school is real, accessible, and embedded in its town, but the academic baseline is a factor to weigh carefully.
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