Middle Schools in Sampson County Schools

Sampson County Schools in North Carolina operates four middle schools—Midway Middle, Hobbton Middle, Roseboro-Salemburg Middle, and Union Middle—serving grades 6 through 8 in a rural, high-poverty area. The district ranks in the 46th percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, and all four schools have very high free/reduced lunch eligibility (97–99%) while exceeding state averages for chronic absenteeism.

There are clear performance differences among the schools. Midway Middle is the strongest, earning a 3-star rating in each of the past three years and posting a 58.6% average EOG proficiency—above the district and state in most subjects, with especially strong 8th grade science (73.8%). Hobbton Middle has shown the most improvement, rising from the 19th to the 41st percentile over two years while reaching 62.4% proficiency in 6th grade math. In contrast, Roseboro-Salemburg Middle has remained stuck at 1 star and below district averages in every subject, and Union Middle has dropped to a 0-star rating with only 32.6% average proficiency—the lowest in the group.

Two findings stand out. First, 8th grade math is a district-wide crisis, with every school below the state average of 53%—and Union Middle posting a startling 7% proficiency rate. Second, science is a relative strength across all four schools, including Union’s 47.4% proficiency in 8th grade science. Chronic absenteeism aligns closely with performance, suggesting that attendance is a key lever for improvement. Despite similar poverty levels, Midway Middle and Hobbton Middle show that higher achievement is possible within this district, while Roseboro-Salemburg Middle and Union Middle need urgent, targeted support in mathematics.