Dole Elementary

As a cozy elementary campus in Salisbury, North Carolina, Dole Elementary instructs 388 students from grades pre-K through 5, run under Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

Rowan-Salisbury Schools runs 32 schools in total, collectively educating 17,683 students. Dole Elementary is one of those campuses.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Dole Elementary logs that the most-represented group is Black (36%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Beyond that, the school shows 31% Hispanic, 22% White, 8% multiracial, 2% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 16% Black, putting the school's mix considerably more Black than the area baseline.

On the resource side, Dole Elementary logs 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.6:1. The state averages about 14.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. An estimated 99% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Dole Elementary falls in the UNDERPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations residual. Given its student profile, a typical campus would land near 48.5%; this one comes in at 26.3%, -22.2 points off the demographic line.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Rowan County put median household earnings sit near $65,725, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 13%. Across Rowan County's 35 public schools (combined enrollment of about 18,917 students), Dole Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Henderson High, around 1.8 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Dole Elementary at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 32.9%.

Dole Elementary operates from a low-density location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Dole Elementary has contracted 25%, going from 514 students in 2018 to 388 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share climbed from 20% to 31%. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 13.8:1 in 2018 to 15.6:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.