Summary:
The city of Stokes, North Carolina, has exactly one school: Stokes, a PK–8 school in Pitt County Schools with 218 students in a very high-poverty area—98.62% qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, and the student-teacher ratio is 13:1. As the only school in town, Stokes carries an "elementary" label while serving pre-kindergarten through 8th grade in one building. It has steadily climbed the state rankings, from the 52nd percentile (rank 722 of 1,505) in 2023–2024, to the 53rd percentile in 2024–2025, and to the 57th percentile (rank 637 of 1,492) in 2025–2026, with a 3-star rating.
In 2025–2026 testing, Stokes averaged 58.1% proficient in math and 50.4% in reading, near state averages of roughly 60% and 56%, but posted an 88.3% average in science—about 20 points above the state. The strongest showings are in 5th grade math (89.5%), 5th grade science (89.5%), 8th grade science (87.0%), 8th grade math (69.6%), and 3rd grade reading (69.2%), all exceeding state averages. The biggest trouble spot is 7th grade, with reading at 23.5% and math at 35.3%, well below the state's 56.3% and 56.2%. Fourth grade math (45.0%) and 6th grade math (43.8%) are also double digits behind the state.
With only 218 students, year-to-year swings can be dramatic: 8th grade math jumped from 20.0% to 69.6%, 3rd grade reading rose from 35.0% to 69.2%, and 5th grade math climbed from 58.3% to 89.5%, while 4th grade math fell from 83.3% to 45.0%. These large shifts likely reflect small cohorts rather than fundamental changes in school quality. Chronic absenteeism is a real concern at 29.0%, above the district's 21.7% and the state's 24.2%—nearly one in three students. Overall, Stokes is on the upswing, with real strengths in science and several elementary grades, but targeted support in middle-school reading and attendance remains essential.
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