Summary:
NERSBA Early College is the only high school in the NERSBA Early College district, serving grades 9–12 in Jamesville, NC, with 140 students. This small, high-poverty school stands out because nearly 98% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet it recently outperformed the state in most tested subjects while keeping chronic absenteeism remarkably low.
In the most recent school year, NERSBA Early College’s End-of-Course proficiency rates were strong across the board. Math I showed a stunning one-year jump from 37.9% to 87.5% proficient, far exceeding the state average of 42.1%. Biology also surged from 40% to 68.8%, climbing from below the state average to more than 10 points above it. English II remained consistently strong at 70.3%, above the state’s 64.6%, while Math III proficiency (69.6%) essentially matched the state (68.9%). The school earned a 3-star rating and was ranked 240th out of 662 North Carolina high schools, placing it in the 64th percentile. Its district ranking was even higher, in the 73rd percentile among districts.
Chronic absenteeism at NERSBA Early College is only 13.1%, roughly half the statewide rate of 24.2%, which likely supports academic success. However, the school’s graduation rate of 69.7% is well below the state’s recent 88.8% figure, a potential concern that deserves monitoring. Also, because enrollment is just 140 students, year-to-year proficiency swings of 10–50 points can reflect very few students, so dramatic improvements should be interpreted with caution. Overall, NERSBA Early College shows that a high-poverty school can achieve strong test results and attendance, while the main challenge remains ensuring students graduate on time.
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