Middle Schools in Orange County Schools

Orange County Schools in North Carolina operates three public middle schools—A L Stanback Middle, Orange Middle, and Gravelly Hill Middle—serving grades 6–8 with a combined enrollment of 1,577 students in a district that ranks in the 72nd percentile among North Carolina districts. These three schools, however, differ sharply in their academic results. Orange Middle is the clear standout: it ranks #196 of 778 schools (75th percentile, 4 stars) and improved its percentile three years in a row. It scored above both the district and state in every reported grade and subject in 2025-26, with an average EOG proficiency around 66.9% compared to the state’s 57.7%. Notably, it also has the lowest poverty rate of the three, with 43.4% of students receiving free/reduced-price lunch.

Gravelly Hill Middle is the most interesting improvement story. It ranks at the 50th percentile (3 stars) and has risen from the 42nd percentile over three years. Its average EOG proficiency jumped about 5 points to 56.7%, and its 8th-grade science proficiency (78.8%) rivals that of Orange Middle (79.4%). However, Gravelly Hill also has the district’s highest chronic absenteeism rate at 29.4% and only 44.8% proficiency in 7th-grade math. A L Stanback Middle is the largest school (648 students) yet the lowest-performing overall: its state percentile dropped to the 42nd percentile (2 stars), and its average EOG proficiency is about 53.2%. It scores below the district in nearly every subject, despite having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (23.0%) and similar per-pupil spending to the others.

Looking across the district, 7th-grade math is a clear weak spot: the three-school average of about 51.9% falls below the state average of 56.2%, with only Orange Middle exceeding both district and state. Conversely, 8th-grade science is a local strength, with the three-school average near 73.4%, well above the state’s 68.6%. Chronic absenteeism and per-pupil spending do not neatly explain the differences—A L Stanback has low absenteeism but weak scores, while Orange Middle spends less per student yet achieves the best results. For parents, the takeaway is that Orange Middle is the safest bet academically, Gravelly Hill is on the rise but uneven, and A L Stanback currently lags its peers.