Sawmills Elementary School was awarded a 3rd place finish in the 2023 Regional Battle of the Books Competition for elementary school students held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at New Life Baptist Church in Lenoir. Seven countywide champion teams competed for the regional title, including the seven-member team from Sawmills Elementary School that holds the 2023 school district championship distinction.

"This experience has been a true joy for my young readers at Sawmills Elementary and for myself,” said Sawmills Battle of the Books Coach James A. Dillard, who is also the media coordinator. “It has been a wonderful 'journey,’ as my students so fondly refer to it, in watching our Elementary Battle of the Books team embrace their love of books and work diligently together in such a challenging competition. Words can't express how proud I am of them."  

Elementary Battle of the Books is an annual competition among teams consisting of 4th and 5th graders. Students read 15 books and then compete against one another in a local, regional, and statewide 'quiz bowl' type competition. Both elementary and middle school Battle of the Books programs are coordinated by the North Carolina School Library Media Association.