A century-old elementary school east of Lenoir could shut its doors in 2027 after losing nearly a third of its students over the past five years. Kings Creek School now enrolls just 120 students in grades K-8, with only seven kindergartners this year, as Caldwell County officials weigh whether the historic building still makes sense to keep open.
A Building Built for 358, Now Serving a Fraction of That
According to WSOC-TV, Kings Creek has lost 30% of its enrollment over the past five years, leaving 52 fewer students in grades K-8 than were there five years ago. Parts of the current building date to 1946, and the school is equipped to hold 358 students, far more than the 120 currently enrolled. A recent study found the aging campus will need $2.4 million in repairs and replacements over the next decade, a price tag that looms large as district leaders weigh the building's future.
The kindergarten numbers tell their own story. Per a separate report from Yahoo News, Kings Creek ended the 2025-26 school year with 141 students, but that number had fallen to 120 by this October. This year's kindergarten class of seven students represents a 40% decrease from the previous school year, the outlet reported, citing district officials.
Families Say the News Hit Hard
[b5] Families Say the News Hit Hard For families with deep ties to the school, the possibility of closure is personal. Michelle Conley, who attended Kings Creek herself, said the news hit hard, and that her children love their teachers and do not want to switch schools, according to the station's report. Christine Kirby said it is sad to think children may have to attend a school farther from home, according to WSOC-TV.
Tegina Reid, whose children and grandson have all attended Kings Creek, said she is scared her grandchildren will have to attend another school, and that her grandson does not want to change schools either, per the same account. Parents in the community have said they hope district leaders will keep Kings Creek open.
Fewer Births, Shrinking Classrooms Across the District
[b8] Fewer Births, Shrinking Classrooms Across the District School district officials have said part of the enrollment decline is due to fewer children being born each year in Caldwell County, the station reported. No decision has been made yet, and the district has said it plans to hold community meetings and a public hearing before the school board decides whether to close the school, with a decision not expected until early 2027, as reported by WSOC-TV.
Any such hearing would be required under North Carolina law. Before a local board of education can enter an order to close or consolidate a school, state statute mandates a public hearing where the public has an opportunity to express its views, according to the North Carolina General Assembly.
Part of a Statewide Wave of School Closures
Kings Creek's predicament is far from unique. Public school enrollment in districts across North Carolina is declining and is projected to continue dropping in the coming years, according to EdNC, which notes that fewer students in schools means lower average daily membership, reduced state funding, and, likely, fewer schools. Outdated facilities, high maintenance costs, and years of deferred maintenance can compel districts to shutter buildings as well, the outlet reports.
The numbers bear that out statewide. Total North Carolina public-school enrollment has dropped by 5.4%, or more than 76,000 students, since 2019, and 105 of the state's 115 school districts saw enrollment declines last fall compared with the year before, per Carolina Journal. Nationally, K-12 enrollment is projected to drop to about 46.9 million students by 2031, according to Stateline.
Other North Carolina districts have already moved forward with closures. Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools closed Pasquotank Elementary in 2024 after district enrollment fell from 6,000 to 4,800 over a decade, EdNC reported. Granville County Public Schools has closed four schools since 2023, with Wilton Elementary set to join that list at the end of this school year in a move expected to save the district about $598,443 annually, WRAL reported. WRAL counted 57 school closures statewide since 2022.
Kings Creek's Hundred-Year History
Kings Creek's roots run deep in Caldwell County. The school was established through action by the Caldwell County Board of Education on January 7, 1924, according to a history published on the Caldwell County Schools website. The building that opened for the 1926-1927 school year included ten classrooms, an auditorium, a library, a principal's office and separate restrooms for students and teachers, and it originally served as a junior high school for grades 1-9.
Kings Creek became strictly an elementary school after high school students were transferred to Hibriten at the end of the 1965-1966 school year, following a districtwide consolidation that also moved students out of Happy Valley and Oak Hill. Now, a century after its founding, the school's future again hangs on decisions still to come, with district leaders expecting to reach one in early 2027 after the planned community meetings and public hearing.
