Wayne STEM Academy

Wayne STEM Academy is a single, K-5 elementary school in Goldsboro, NC, serving 305 students within its own standalone district, Wayne STEM Academy.

Wayne STEM Academy serves a majority low-income student body, with about 68% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet it stands out for exceptional attendance: only 14.1% of students are chronically absent, far better than the state average of 24.2%. The school also enjoys a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.6 to 1. Academically, the school faces significant challenges, particularly in reading. Third grade reading proficiency is just 35.6%, a 20-point gap compared to the statewide rate of 55.6%. Math performance is somewhat stronger but still below state averages, with the smallest gap appearing in 5th grade math (57.1% vs. 62.9%). The relative bright spot is 5th grade science, where 63.3% of students are proficient, close to the state's 67.7%. Overall, Wayne STEM Academy ranks near the bottom quarter of North Carolina elementary schools, holding a 1-star rating and a rank of 1,148 out of 1,492 schools.

Looking at year-over-year trends, the picture is mixed but offers some encouragement. Between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, 3rd grade improved notably in both reading (+5 points) and math (+5.6 points). However, the 4th grade cohort declined significantly in the same subjects, dropping roughly 7 points in each. Following cohorts as they advance suggests meaningful gains: the group that was in 3rd grade in 2024-2025 improved by 11.2 points in reading by the time it reached 4th grade, while the previous 4th grade cohort gained 5.9 points in math as it moved to 5th grade. These cohort-level gains, combined with strong attendance and a low student-teacher ratio, suggest the school has a solid foundation to build on. Yet the overall state rank has been essentially stagnant for two years, indicating that while individual grades fluctuate, large-scale improvement in literacy and math remains the key challenge for this school.