Best Public Schools in Supply, NC

Supply, North Carolina is served by two public schools—Supply Elementary (grades PK–5, 580 students) and Cedar Grove Middle (grades 6–8, 507 students)—both part of Brunswick County Schools, a 3-star district ranked in the 65th percentile statewide. The schools serve an almost universally economically disadvantaged population, with over 99% of students at both schools eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Neither school is a top state performer overall: Supply Elementary sits at the 26th percentile with a 1-star rating, while Cedar Grove Middle is the stronger of the two, ranking at the 44th percentile with a 2-star rating.

For parents weighing the two schools, Cedar Grove Middle offers the brighter academic picture. It posts results close to district and state averages in reading and science, with standout 6th-grade math (65.1% proficient vs. 59.2% statewide) and 8th-grade science (67.5% vs. 68.6% statewide), plus strong year-over-year gains in reading across all grades. Its persistent weakness is 7th-grade math, where proficiency sits at just 38.0% compared to the 56.2% state average. Supply Elementary shines in 3rd-grade math (69.7% proficient, nearly matching district and state), and 5th-grade math also matches the state average at 62.9%. However, reading proficiency is low across every elementary grade, and the school shows a sharp 4th-grade academic drop-off, with only 38.1% proficient in both math and reading versus state averages near 61% and 58%, respectively.

Chronic absenteeism is one of the most pressing issues in Supply. Cedar Grove Middle reports that 34.7% of students are chronically absent—more than 10 points above the state rate of 24.2%—while Supply Elementary follows at 27.1%. Encouragingly, the latest 2025–2026 data show meaningful improvements at both schools, including double-digit gains in several reading, math, and science categories. Given the extremely high poverty levels and persistent attendance challenges, these schools face considerable hurdles, but the recent upward academic momentum offers reason for cautious optimism.