L J Bell Elementary School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2026)

442 Hawthorne Ave
Rockingham, NC 28379

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Serving 480 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, L J Bell Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 49% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving is 41% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is equal to the North Carolina state level of 15:1.

Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 57% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 480 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 59%
: Bottom 50% in NC
: 49% (Btm 50%)
: 41% (Btm 50%)
: 60-64% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

L J Bell Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category

Attribute

Percent Eligible For Free Lunch

Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 10%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

L J Bell Elementary School's student population of 480 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 32 teachers has declined by 5% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	L J Bell Elementary School
Pre-K	15
Kind	67
1	61
2	107
3	69
4	79
5	82

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Total Students

480 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School
2023	476
2022	519
2021	500
2020	559
2019	559
2018	572
2017	572
2016	562
2015	554
2014	557
2013	560
2012	580
2011	536
2010	525
2009	554
2008	544
2007	560
2006	543
2005	521
2004	544
2003	584
2002	583
2001	574
2000	810
1999	790
1998	834
1997	849
1996	847
1995	799
1994	755
1993	736
1992	713
1991	754
1990	750
1989	800
1988	813
1987	813

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

32 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School
2023	33
2022	32
2021	34
2020	36
2019	36
2018	32
2017	32
2016	34
2015	36
2014	34
2013	38
2012	33
2011	32
2010	32
2009	35
2008	36
2006	55
2005	55
2004	55
2003	55
2002	55
2001	55
2000	55
1999	55
1998	55
1997	49
1996	48
1995	40
1994	36
1993	35
1992	36
1991	42
1990	38

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Year Founded

1905

School Calendar

Campus Size

50 acres

Average Class Size

15 students

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

L J Bell Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,617 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of L J Bell Elementary School is 0.68, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (NC)

#1582 out of 2617 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School
2023	#1582
2022	#1582
2021	#1686
2019	#1346
2018	#1158
2017	#1082
2016	#906
2015	#950
2014	#1201
2013	#1027
2012	#969

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(21-22)

49%

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2022	49%	51%	44%
2021	31%	42%	30%
2019	43%	42%	42%
2018	49%	48%	39%
2017	52%	47%	43%
2016	51%	47%	43%
2015	54%	44%	37%
2014	41%	43%	32%
2013	45%	42%	31%
2012	84%	82%	77%
2011	85%	82%	75%

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41%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2022	41%	50%	40%
2021	39%	47%	36%
2019	38%	46%	39%
2018	41%	47%	39%
2017	44%	46%	38%
2016	50%	47%	37%
2015	44%	46%	34%
2014	45%	46%	34%
2013	43%	45%	30%
2012	81%	73%	62%
2011	75%	70%	58%

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60-64%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2022	62%	63%	57%
2021	57%	61%	55%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	14:1	15:1	14:1
2022	16:1	14:1	14:1
2021	15:1	14:1	14:1
2020	16:1	15:1	15:1
2019	16:1	15:1	15:1
2018	18:1	16:1	14:1
2017	18:1	15:1	14:1
2016	17:1	16:1	14:1
2015	15:1	16:1	14:1
2014	16:1	15:1	16:1
2013	15:1	15:1	16:1
2012	18:1	15:1	17:1
2011	17:1	15:1	16:1
2010	16:1	15:1	15:1
2009	16:1	15:1	14:1
2008	15:1	15:1	14:1
2006	10:1	14:1	14:1
2005	9:1	14:1	14:1
2004	10:1	15:1	14:1
2003	11:1	15:1	14:1
2002	11:1	15:1	14:1
2001	10:1	15:1	14:1
2000	15:1	15:1	15:1
1999	14:1	15:1	15:1
1998	15:1	15:1	15:1
1997	17:1	16:1	16:1
1996	18:1	16:1	16:1
1995	20:1	16:1	16:1
1994	21:1	16:1	17:1
1993	21:1	16:1	17:1
1992	20:1	16:1	18:1
1991	18:1	16:1	15:1
1990	20:1	17:1	17:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	1%	1%	3%
2022	3%	1%	3%
2021	3%	1%	4%
2020	2%	1%	4%
2019	2%	1%	4%
2018	1%	1%	3%
2017	1%	1%	3%
2016	2%	1%	4%
2015	1%	1%	5%
2014	1%	1%	4%
2013	2%	1%	4%
2012	1%	1%	5%
2011	1%	2%	5%
2010	1%	1%	5%
2009	2%	2%	5%
2008	2%	2%	6%
2007	2%	2%	5%
2006	1%	2%	4%
2005	2%	2%	5%
2004	1%	2%	2%
2003	1%	2%	2%
2002	1%	2%	2%
2001	1%	2%	2%
2000	1%	2%	2%
1999	1%	2%	1%
1998	1%	2%	1%
1990	1%	2%	1%
1988	1%	2%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	1%	4%	1%
2022	1%	4%	1%
2021	1%	4%	1%
2020	1%	3%	1%
2019	1%	3%	1%
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	1%	3%	1%
2013	2%	3%	1%
2012	1%	3%	1%
2011	2%	2%	1%
2010	1%	3%	1%
2009	1%	2%	1%
2008	2%	3%	1%
2007	2%	3%	1%
2006	1%	2%	1%
2005	2%	2%	1%
2004	1%	2%	1%
2003	1%	2%	1%
2002	1%	2%	1%
2001	1%	2%	1%
2000	1%	2%	1%
1999	1%	2%	1%
1998	2%	2%	1%
1997	3%	1%	1%
1996	2%	1%	1%
1995	2%	1%	1%
1994	2%	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%	1%
1992	2%	1%	1%
1991	2%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

10%

21%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	7%	20%	14%
2022	8%	20%	13%
2021	7%	19%	13%
2020	7%	18%	12%
2019	7%	18%	12%
2018	7%	17%	12%
2017	7%	17%	12%
2016	5%	16%	11%
2015	5%	16%	12%
2014	5%	15%	10%
2013	5%	14%	10%
2012	6%	13%	9%
2011	5%	13%	9%
2010	3%	11%	8%
2009	2%	11%	7%
2008	3%	11%	6%
2007	3%	10%	6%
2006	2%	8%	5%
2005	2%	8%	4%
2004	2%	7%	4%
2003	2%	6%	3%
2002	1%	5%	3%
2001	1%	4%	3%
2000	1%	4%	2%
1999	1%	3%	2%

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Black

38%

25%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	36%	25%	37%
2022	38%	25%	37%
2021	39%	25%	37%
2020	39%	25%	36%
2019	39%	25%	36%
2018	41%	26%	37%
2017	41%	26%	37%
2016	43%	26%	38%
2015	43%	26%	36%
2014	38%	26%	37%
2013	38%	26%	37%
2012	38%	26%	37%
2011	37%	26%	38%
2010	42%	31%	41%
2009	46%	31%	42%
2008	43%	29%	40%
2007	42%	29%	40%
2006	45%	32%	42%
2005	44%	31%	41%
2004	45%	31%	41%
2003	44%	31%	41%
2002	47%	31%	41%
2001	47%	31%	42%
2000	49%	31%	42%
1999	45%	31%	42%
1998	46%	30%	42%
1997	45%	31%	41%
1996	46%	31%	41%
1995	46%	30%	41%
1994	44%	30%	40%
1993	41%	30%	39%
1992	39%	30%	40%
1991	41%	30%	39%

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White

41%

43%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	48%	44%	39%
2022	44%	45%	40%
2021	44%	46%	40%
2020	44%	48%	42%
2019	44%	48%	42%
2018	45%	49%	44%
2017	45%	49%	44%
2016	45%	50%	44%
2015	47%	50%	43%
2014	50%	51%	45%
2013	49%	52%	45%
2012	51%	53%	46%
2011	51%	53%	45%
2010	53%	54%	45%
2009	49%	54%	45%
2008	50%	55%	47%
2007	51%	56%	48%
2006	51%	56%	48%
2005	50%	57%	49%
2004	51%	58%	52%
2003	52%	59%	53%
2002	50%	60%	53%
2001	50%	61%	52%
2000	47%	61%	53%
1999	52%	62%	54%
1998	51%	63%	55%
1997	52%	64%	55%
1996	52%	64%	56%
1995	52%	65%	56%
1994	54%	66%	57%
1993	58%	66%	58%
1992	59%	66%	58%
1991	57%	66%	58%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	7%	6%	6%
2022	6%	5%	6%
2021	6%	5%	5%
2020	7%	5%	5%
2019	7%	5%	5%
2018	5%	4%	4%
2017	5%	4%	4%
2016	4%	4%	3%
2015	3%	4%	4%
2014	5%	4%	3%
2013	4%	4%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.68

0.71

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	0.64	0.71	0.70
2022	0.66	0.70	0.69
2021	0.65	0.69	0.69
2020	0.65	0.68	0.68
2019	0.65	0.68	0.68
2018	0.63	0.67	0.66
2017	0.63	0.67	0.66
2016	0.61	0.66	0.66
2015	0.60	0.66	0.63
2014	0.61	0.65	0.66
2013	0.62	0.65	0.65
2012	0.60	0.64	0.65
2011	0.60	0.64	0.65
2010	0.55	0.61	0.62
2009	0.55	0.61	0.61
2008	0.57	0.61	0.62
2007	0.57	0.60	0.61
2006	0.54	0.58	0.59
2005	0.56	0.58	0.59
2004	0.54	0.57	0.56
2003	0.54	0.56	0.56
2002	0.53	0.55	0.55
2001	0.53	0.53	0.55
2000	0.54	0.53	0.54
1999	0.53	0.52	0.54
1998	0.53	0.52	0.53
1997	0.53	0.50	0.53
1996	0.52	0.50	0.53
1995	0.52	0.49	0.52
1994	0.52	0.48	0.52
1993	0.50	0.48	0.51
1992	0.50	0.48	0.51
1991	0.51	0.48	0.51

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

99%

68%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2023	99%	57%	96%
2022	99%	47%	96%
2021	99%	49%	96%
2020	99%	52%	96%
2019	99%	52%	96%
2018	99%	53%	95%
2017	99%	53%	95%
2016	99%	52%	85%
2015	99%	52%	85%
2014	65%	47%	71%
2013	63%	47%	68%
2012	57%	45%	65%
2011	56%	43%	64%
2010	54%	40%	59%
2009	55%	28%	57%
2008	54%	25%	56%
2007	52%	35%	54%
2006	9%	35%	10%
2005	56%	37%	57%
2004	50%	36%	52%
2002	47%	30%	47%
2001	69%	29%	47%
2000	50%	31%	48%
1999	49%	31%	47%
1998	47%	31%	44%
1997	45%	30%	45%
1996	43%	30%	44%
1995	44%	29%	42%
1994	42%	29%	42%
1993	41%	29%	42%
1992	34%	22%	32%

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Eligible for (13-14)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2014)
Year	L J Bell Elementary School	North Carolina	Richmond County Schools
2014	3%	7%	7%
2013	5%	7%	7%
2012	5%	8%	8%
2011	7%	8%	7%
2010	7%	9%	8%
2009	5%	6%	9%
2008	9%	6%	10%
2007	6%	8%	9%
2006	41%	7%	36%
2005	9%	8%	10%
2004	7%	8%	10%
2002	6%	8%	9%
2001	12%	7%	10%
2000	6%	8%	10%
1999	7%	7%	10%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Richmond County Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-notes">School Notes

School Mascot: Wild Boars

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is L J Bell Elementary School's ranking?

L J Bell Elementary School is ranked #1582 out of 2,617 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

49% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 51% NC state average), while 41% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 50% NC state average).

How many students attend L J Bell Elementary School?

480 students attend L J Bell Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

41% of L J Bell Elementary School students are White, 38% of students are Black, 10% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of L J Bell Elementary School?

L J Bell Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 15:1.

What grades does L J Bell Elementary School offer ?

L J Bell Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is L J Bell Elementary School part of?

L J Bell Elementary School is part of Richmond County Schools.

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