Summary:
Zip code 31321 is home to one public middle school, Bryan County Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 430 students in the Pembroke area.
Bryan County Middle School presents a mixed picture for parents. The school’s standout strength is its Algebra I program, where 92.9% of students scored proficient in 2025–2026—nearly double the state average of 48.1% and well above the Bryan County district’s 76.2%. However, this success does not extend to general math: only 27–32% of students in grades 6–8 met proficiency standards, far below district and state averages. The school also lags in 8th-grade social studies (29.3% vs. 55.1% district) and science (30.0% vs. 33.8% district). Over the past year, proficiency dropped significantly in 8th-grade math (−11 points), social studies (−7.9 points), and science (−6.4 points), contributing to a steady decline in the school’s state ranking from the 55th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 41st percentile in 2025–2026, with its star rating falling from 3 to 2 stars.
Two factors stand out as likely drivers of these challenges. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern at 20.7%, notably higher than the district’s 12.2% and the state’s 17.7%, and the school serves a high-poverty population with 71.16% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Importantly, resources are not the issue—the school spends $13,670 per student and maintains a favorable 11.9:1 student-to-teacher ratio. This suggests the academic struggles are tied more to engagement and support than funding. For parents, this means Bryan County Middle School offers exceptional opportunities for advanced math students but requires careful attention to attendance and grade-level support for the majority of learners, especially as the school works to reverse its downward trend within an otherwise high-performing district.
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