Bunn Elementary School: Rooted in Purpose, Harvesting Success, Earns a “B” for the First Time in School History

Bunn Elementary School: Rooted in Purpose, Harvesting Success, Earns a “B” for the First Time in School History

September 4, 2026

LOUISBURG, NC — The fields around Bunn Elementary School aren’t the only things yielding a spectacular harvest this season. In alignment with Franklin County Schools' 2026–2027 district theme, "Rooted in Purpose," Bunn Elementary’s Jr. Wildcats are celebrating a landmark academic performance, leaping from a State Performance Grade "C" to an official Grade "B."

According to the newly released 2026 state accountability data, Bunn Elementary achieved a School Performance Score of 70, crossing the threshold into "B" status and marking a monumental milestone for the school’s students, educators, and families. This marks the first time in Bunn Elementary School’s history that the school has earned a School Performance Grade “B.” This represents a significant rise from the previous year's score of 65. This represents a significant rise from the previous year's score of 65. In 2021-2022 BES had a performance grade of 52 (D) and was considered a low performing school. Their GLP was 45.1% and their math GLP was 53%. Huge jumps in such a short period of time.

Shattering Expectations Across the Board

The climb to a Grade "B" is backed by phenomenal classroom numbers that show Bunn Elementary is successfully executing the rigorous standards of the Blueprint 2030 Strategic Plan:

Double-Digit Academic Gains: Bunn Elementary’s Grade Level Proficiency (GLP) increased by 10.3 percentage points, climbing from 58.4% in 2025 to a stellar 68.7% in 2026! This means 68.7% of assessments taken received proficient scores in 2026, compared with 58.4% in 2025. 

Exceeding Academic Growth: In addition to soaring proficiency, Bunn Elementary officially MET the state’s rigorous academic growth expectations with a positive Growth Index of 1.67.  

A Champion in Core Subjects

The Jr. Wildcats demonstrated outstanding mastery in individual subject areas, showing academic excellence that outpaced state trends:

Math Dominance: Bunn Elementary students achieved a breathtaking 80.1% proficiency rate in Mathematics, demonstrating the direct impact of the school's focused math interventions.

Scientific Excellence: In Science, student proficiency soared to 74.7%, showcasing high-quality, hands-on inquiry and standard-aligned curriculum.

Soaring Literacy: Student Reading proficiency climbed to a strong 56.9%, reflecting a schoolwide dedication to nurturing lifelong readers.

A Purpose-Driven Community Effort

"The success at Bunn Elementary shows exactly what happens when we stay deeply rooted in our purpose," said Superintendent Dr. Nakia Hardy. "We are so proud of our Jr. Wildcats. They have proved that with high expectations, targeted support, and an incredible partnership between school and home, our students can achieve anything."

“Earning a ‘B’ for the first time in Bunn Elementary School’s history is an incredible milestone for our entire school community,” said Chris Cullom, Bunn Elementary School Principal and Franklin County Schools Principal of the Year. “This achievement reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the continued support of our families. We are proud of how far our Jr. Wildcats have come.”

Franklin County Schools congratulates the students, staff, and leadership of Bunn Elementary School on this well-deserved "B" rating as they continue to grow forward together!