Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Winston Salem Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 54 public elementary schools serving 27,329 students in Winston Salem, NC.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC are Sherwood Forest Elementary School, Wallburg Elementary School and Whitaker Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Winston Salem, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average). Elementary schools in Winston Salem have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Elementary Schools in Winston Salem, NC (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1055 Yorkshire Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 774-4646
Gr: PK-5 | 670 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Wallburg Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
205 Motsinger Road
Winston Salem, NC 27107
(336) 769-2921
Gr: PK-5 | 717 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Whitaker Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2600 Buena Vista Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104
(336) 703-6740
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #44.
The Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
601 N Cherry Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Gr: PK-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #55.
Meadowlark Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 Meadowlark Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4208
Gr: PK-5 | 827 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #66.
Meadowlark Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 Meadowlark Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4228
Gr: 6-8 | 857 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #77.
Friendship Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1490 Friendship-ledford Road
Winston Salem, NC 27107
(336) 231-8744
Gr: PK-5 | 470 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #88.
Oak Grove Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1771 Hoy Long Road
Winston Salem, NC 27107
(336) 474-8250
Gr: 6-8 | 727 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #99.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4000 Jefferson School Lane
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4215
Gr: PK-5 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1010.
The Arts Based School
Charter School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1380 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 748-4116
Gr: K-8 | 663 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1111.
Friedberg Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1131 Friedberg Church Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 764-2059
Gr: PK-5 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1212.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3500 Sally Kirk Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4222
Gr: 6-8 | 808 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1313.
Hanes Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2355 Pleasant St
Winston Salem, NC 27107
(336) 703-4171
Gr: 6-8 | 967 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1414.
The Special Children's School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4505 Shattalon Dr
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4191
Gr: PK-5 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1515.
Clemmons Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3785 Fraternity Church Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 703-4217
Gr: 6-8 | 1,092 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1616.
Quality Education Academy
Charter School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5012-d Lansing Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 744-7138
Gr: K-12 | 776 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
Rank: #1717.
Brunson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
155 N Hawthorne Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104
(336) 703-4206
Gr: PK-5 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1818.
Forsyth Academy
Charter School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5426 Shattalon Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 922-1121
Gr: K-8 | 729 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1919.
Moore Magnet Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
451 Knollwood Street
Winston Salem, NC 27103
(336) 727-2860
Gr: PK-5 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2020.
Speas Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2000 W Polo Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4135
Gr: PK-5 | 793 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2121.
Paisley Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1394 Thurmond St
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-4168
Gr: 6-10 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2222.
Wiley Magnet Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 Northwest Boulevard
Winston Salem, NC 27104
(336) 727-2378
Gr: 6-8 | 754 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2323.
Bolton Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1250 Bolton Street
Winston Salem, NC 27103
(336) 703-4247
Gr: PK-5 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2424.
J F Kennedy High School
Magnet School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
890 E 11th Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4143
Gr: 6-12 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #2525.
Ward Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3775 Fraternity Church Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 703-4235
Gr: PK-5 | 489 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2626.
Old Town Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3930 Reynolda Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4283
Gr: PK-5 | 617 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2727.
Konnoak Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3200 Renon Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 703-4163
Gr: PK-5 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2828.
Griffith Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1385 W Clemmonsville Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 703-4245
Gr: PK-5 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2929.
Ibraham Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5036 Old Walkertown
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-6771
Gr: PK-5 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3030.
Virtual Academy
(Math: 15% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
601 N Cherry St. Suite 250
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4296
Gr: 3-8 | 177 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3131.
Diggs-latham Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
986 Hutton Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4102
Gr: PK-5 | 385 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #3232.
Smith Farm Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4250 Johnny Knoll Lane
Winston Salem, NC 27107
(336) 703-4188
Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #3333.
Childrens Center
Special Education School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Coliseum Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 727-2440
Gr: PK-5 | 83 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #3434.
Gibson Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2020 Walker Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4212
Gr: PK-5 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3535.
Northwest Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5501 Murray Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 703-4161
Gr: 6-8 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Show 19 more public schools in Winston Salem, NC (out of 54 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC?
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Winston Salem, NC include Sherwood Forest Elementary School, Wallburg Elementary School and Whitaker Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Winston Salem?
54 public elementary schools are located in Winston Salem.
What is the racial composition of students in Winston Salem?
Winston Salem public elementary schools minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Winston Salem are often viewed compared to one another?

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