High Schools in Vance County Schools

The Vance County Schools district in North Carolina includes four schools that serve high school grades—a traditional high school, an early college, a virtual school, and an alternative school—together covering a high-poverty area where outcomes vary dramatically from one school to the next. Serving roughly 1,500 high school students total, these schools range from one of the top-ranked high schools in the state to one of the lowest.

If you are looking at high schools in this district, Vance County Early College is the clear standout. It ranks 88th in North Carolina (87th percentile, 4 stars) and is the only school here performing near or above state averages in every core subject. In 2025–26, its EOC proficiency rates were remarkably high: Math III 97.5%, Math I 88.5%, Biology 88.1%, and English II 87.3%. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 9.6%, and its graduation rate is 89.8%—all achieved while serving a student body that is 98.73% economically disadvantaged. Nearby, Vance County High School, the district's largest school with 1,064 students, struggles in the opposite direction: it ranks 636th (4th percentile, 0 stars), posts proficiency rates well below the district average (Math I at just 9.0%, English II at 21.8%), and faces an 86.9% chronic absenteeism rate. Vance Virtual Village Academy shows a mixed picture: it outperforms the district in English II (53.3%) and lower-grade reading, but its math scores are extremely weak (Math I 6.3%). AdVance Academy, an alternative school, ranks 660th out of 662 schools (0 stars) and has the lowest graduation rate at 57.1%, with proficiency rates in single digits in most subjects.

Two big takeaways stand out. First, chronic absenteeism is devastating the district: about 52.8% of all students are chronically absent, and the rates at Vance County High School and AdVance Academy are even higher—while Early College proves that attendance can be excellent even in the same high-poverty district. Second, math is a critical weakness everywhere except Early College; even at Vance High, only 9% of students pass Math I, compared with the state average of 42.1%. Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes—AdVance Academy spends the most per student ($14,199) but has the lowest achievement, while Early College spends the least ($7,695) and produces the best results. For parents, the data strongly suggest that Vance County Early College is an exceptional option, while the other three schools need significant attention—especially around attendance, math instruction, and overall student engagement.