The Downtown School, 601 N. Cherry St.: grades pre-K to 8, 401 students in 2024-25 and a B (75) in 2024-25 state grades.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Sources: the school’s website, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ school locator, boundary maps, bell schedules and 2026-27 calendar, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2025-26 accountability data and report card data and the federal NCES school directory.
The Downtown School is a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools elementary and middle school for grades pre-K to 8 at 601 N. Cherry St. in Winston-Salem. The district lists it as a magnet school on its elementary schools page.
Who to call
- Front office: 336-703-4125, 601 N. Cherry St., Winston-Salem
- School website: www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/o/des
- Enrollment and assignment: WS/FCS Student Assignment Office, 336-748-3302; student assignment page
- Applying: the district’s magnet and choice timeline
- Buses and the district office: WS/FCS main line, 336-727-2816, 475 Corporate Square Drive
| Address | 601 N. Cherry St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 |
| Phone | 336-703-4125 |
| Grades | pre-K to 8 |
| Run by | Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools |
| Calendar | Traditional |
| State school code | 340354 |
Principal
Principal Andrew Lester-Niles, according to the school’s staff directory on Oct. 12, 2026.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 401 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 431 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 34 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 13 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina gives every public school an A to F School Performance Grade, based 80% on achievement on state tests and other measures and 20% on academic growth, according to the state’s 2025-26 annual testing report.
| School year | Grade (score) | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | B (75) | Met |
| 2023-24 | B (72) | Met |
The 2024-25 grade is the latest in the state’s downloadable report card data.
From the state’s 2025-26 school assessment data:
- At grade level or above, all state tests: 74.9% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 53.7% (state: 37.5%)
- Growth: met expected growth
The full report card, with attendance, teacher and course data, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site.
How admission works
The Downtown School has no residential attendance zone; it does not appear on the district’s boundary maps. Students enroll through the WS/FCS magnet and choice process. For the 2027-28 school year the district’s assignment timeline lists the Magnet School Showcase from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Education Building at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, and the magnet and choice application period from Oct. 31, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2027. Group tours are by appointment with the school.
Calendar and bell times
- School day: 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with two-hour early dismissal at 1:15 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule. The schedule lists 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for its middle grades.
The Downtown School follows the district’s 2026-27 calendar. Coming up:
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: teacher professional day (Election Day); no school for students
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday
- Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving break
- Friday, Dec. 18: end of the second quarter and first semester
- Dec. 21 to Jan. 4: winter break
- Monday, Jan. 18, 2027: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Monday, Feb. 15, 2027: teacher professional day
- March 26 to April 2, 2027: spring break
- Friday, May 21, 2027: last day of school
The district has set Dec. 21-22, Jan. 4, Feb. 15 and May 24-28 as make-up days for bad weather.
More
- The school’s own website
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ student assignment page and list of schools and programs
- Every public school in Winston-Salem, with zones and report cards
- Our Winston-Salem schools guide for the district and school board
Frequently asked questions
What grades does The Downtown School serve?
The Downtown School serves grades pre-K to 8, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
What is The Downtown School’s school grade?
The Downtown School earned a B, with a score of 75, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, 74.9% of its state tests were at grade level or above.
How do students get into The Downtown School?
The Downtown School has no residential zone. Families apply through the WS/FCS magnet and choice process; the 2027-28 application period runs Oct. 31, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2027.
What time does The Downtown School start?
The school day runs 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule.
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