Middle Schools in Roanoke Rapids City Schools

Roanoke Rapids City Schools is served by a single middle school, Chaloner Middle School, which enrolls 605 students across grades 6–8 in a district where 99.5% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—making the school and the district statistically identical on nearly every measure. Chaloner has steadily improved its statewide ranking, moving from the 42nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 54th percentile in 2025–2026, and now holds a 3-star rating after earning only 2 stars two years earlier. This upward trend stands out for a school with such high economic disadvantage, but the data also reveal clear areas of concern, especially chronic absenteeism, which affects 32.6% of students—8.4 percentage points above the state average of 24.2%.

Looking at 2025–2026 End-of-Grade test results, the standout strength is 8th grade math, where 66.7% of students scored proficient, beating the state average by 13.7 points—the second consecutive year Chaloner has exceeded the state by double digits in that subject. Eighth grade science is also a bright spot, with 71.7% proficiency compared to the state’s 68.6%, after a dramatic 14.6-point jump from the prior year. By contrast, 7th grade reading is the school’s biggest weakness, with only 47.8% proficient, 8.5 points below the state, and a 7.3-point decline from the year before. Sixth grade math and reading are both slightly below state averages, while 8th grade reading essentially matches the state. The pattern suggests math achievement strengthens with age, but reading performance is inconsistent across grade levels.

For parents, the most useful takeaway is that Chaloner is a high-poverty school that is succeeding in some subjects but still struggles in others. The school’s rapid improvement in rankings and strong 8th grade math/science outcomes indicate that its teaching strategies in those areas are effective, even under difficult circumstances. However, the 7th grade reading dip and the very high chronic absenteeism rate suggest that helping students attend school consistently and providing extra reading support in middle school could unlock further gains. Because the district is just this one school, any improvements made here will be direct and visible. While per-student spending data from 2018–2019 shows $8,724 per student, that figure is outdated, so current funding levels remain unclear. Overall, Chaloner shows real promise, but attendance and reading are the two areas most likely to determine whether its upward trajectory continues.