Best Public Schools in Ash, NC

The city of Ash, North Carolina, is served by two public schools in Brunswick County Schools: Waccamaw, a K–8 school with 415 students, and Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary, a PK–5 school with 390 students. Both schools serve nearly identical, extremely high-poverty populations, with roughly 99% of students at each school qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Waccamaw is the clear standout. It ranks in the 66th percentile statewide, far above Jessie Mae Monroe’s 50th percentile, and its math performance is remarkable given its demographics—averaging 76.8% proficiency across grades 3–8, with 6th-grade math hitting 85% versus 59.2% statewide. Waccamaw’s reading scores are weaker than its math scores, averaging just 60.4%, and it struggles most in 5th-grade reading. Jessie Mae Monroe, by contrast, has better attendance (18.2% chronic absenteeism versus Waccamaw’s 20.8%) and edges out Waccamaw in 5th-grade science, but its overall state rank sits right at the median. Its 4th-grade math and reading scores improved sharply in 2025–2026, though its 5th-grade reading remains a concern at 43.3% proficiency—12 points below the state average.

Both schools have slipped in statewide percentile rankings over the past three years, with Jessie Mae Monroe’s slide steeper (from 59th to 50th percentile) than Waccamaw’s (from 70th to 66th). Yet Waccamaw’s most recent grade-level tests actually improved dramatically, such as 8th-grade math jumping from 58.5% to 77.3%, suggesting classroom-level gains despite ranking dips. Because the two schools have nearly identical student-teacher ratios and per-pupil spending, the differences in achievement—especially in math—point to instructional practices or school culture rather than resources. For parents, Waccamaw offers exceptional math and middle-school science, while Jessie Mae Monroe provides steadier attendance and some early-grade strengths, but both face challenges in reading that warrant attention.