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River Mill Academy

Q: Is River Mill Academy a good school?

River Mill Academy ranks 161 st of 1492 North Carolina alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

161^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Alternative Schools

Better than 89% of North Carolina alternative schools

Summary

River Mill Academy is a K-12 school in Graham, NC, that serves about 780 students and operates as its own single-school district. Overall, it is a high-performing school relative to North Carolina state averages. It has strong proficiency rates in most tested grades, a graduation rate of 93.3% (vs. 87.7% statewide), and chronic absenteeism of just 12.1% — roughly half the statewide rate of 24.2%.

Academically, River Mill Academy is especially strong in upper elementary and middle school. In 8th grade math, 98.1% of students scored proficient versus 53.0% statewide, and 8th grade reading reached 90.6% compared to 56.1% statewide. Those results also outpace the nearby Eno River Academy, The Hawbridge School, and Clover Garden. For example, 8th grade math proficiency was 72.1% at Eno River Academy and 46.5% at Clover Garden. It also leads its peers in Biology EOC, with 92.9% proficient versus 80.4% at Eno River Academy and 77.6% at The Hawbridge School.

The main areas to watch are early elementary reading and high-school math. River Mill Academy scores above the state in 3rd grade reading (64.7% vs. 55.6%) but trails Eno River Academy, where 73.8% of students were proficient. And while 8th grade math proficiency is near universal, the Math I EOC result of 34.5% fell below the state average of 42.1% and below every nearby comparable school. These high-school EOC scores swing considerably from year to year, likely reflecting small cohorts, so it is wise to view them cautiously. Overall, River Mill Academy provides a stable learning environment where most students leave middle school exceptionally well prepared in reading, math, and science.

780

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

235 Cheeks Lane
Graham, NC 27253

(336) 229-0909

District: River Mill Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.7%

Hispanic:

15.6%

African American:

14.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare River Mill Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 64th percentile in 2023 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (81% vs 59% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of North Carolina alternative schools

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (88%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school81%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

161^st of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 21 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

35^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 4%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

218^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	86.5	161 of 1492	89.2%	★★★★☆
2025	81.9	221 of 1490	85.2%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	279 of 1505	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	73.7	346 of 1502	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	84.8	182 of 1514	88.0%	★★★★☆
2021	85.6	177 of 1489	88.1%	★★★★☆
2019	76.9	276 of 1473	81.3%	★★★★☆
2018	58.7	601 of 1434	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.1	575 of 1429	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.3	454 of 1425	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	73.4	354 of 1440	75.4%	★★★★☆
2014	75.3	304 of 1390	78.1%	★★★★☆
2013	61.0	508 of 1403	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.7	284 of 1388	79.5%	★★★★☆
2011	69.5	419 of 1381	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	78.0	237 of 1363	82.6%	★★★★☆
2009	63.3	540 of 1354	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.8	336 of 1324	74.6%	★★★★☆
2007	57.7	594 of 1293	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	61.3	513 of 1276	59.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.4	45 of 903	95.0%	★★★★★
2025	95.2	21 of 918	97.7%	★★★★★
2024	91.7	34 of 924	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	66 of 949	93.0%	★★★★★
2018	59.6	312 of 927	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.1	215 of 1447	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	73.0	314 of 1451	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.0	384 of 1455	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	70.5	382 of 1459	73.8%	★★★★☆
2022	82.0	199 of 1458	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	85.0	164 of 1440	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	81.5	188 of 1424	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	61.6	556 of 1405	60.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	95.9	20 of 981	98.0%	★★★★★
2025	81.6	97 of 961	89.9%	★★★★★
2024	75.5	159 of 951	83.3%	★★★★☆
2022	78.4	116 of 893	87.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	93.3	42 of 1434	97.1%	★★★★★
2025	85.9	87 of 1437	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	70.4	316 of 1450	78.2%	★★★★☆
2023	62.6	448 of 1437	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	85.7	83 of 1366	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	90.8	51 of 1329	96.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.2	125 of 1451	91.4%	★★★★★
2025	87.9	115 of 1450	92.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.4	156 of 1464	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	73.5	321 of 1461	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	84.3	177 of 1464	87.9%	★★★★☆
2021	81.5	211 of 1444	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	67.2	429 of 1430	70.0%	★★★★☆
2018	54.2	667 of 1413	52.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	376 of 1146	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.3	442 of 1172	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.9	472 of 1166	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	518 of 1183	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.8	271 of 1194	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.3	286 of 1172	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	57.5	500 of 1183	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.9	836 of 1178	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	94.3	35 of 778	95.5%	★★★★★
2025	91.2	52 of 773	93.3%	★★★★★
2024	92.3	48 of 793	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	85.0	101 of 784	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	88.6	72 of 786	90.8%	★★★★★
2021	80.2	129 of 741	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	78.2	138 of 737	81.3%	★★★★☆
2018	67.7	218 of 691	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.3	189 of 694	72.8%	★★★★☆
2016	85.4	71 of 692	89.7%	★★★★☆
2015	83.9	92 of 705	87.0%	★★★★☆
2014	81.4	101 of 627	83.9%	★★★★☆
2013	64.7	197 of 673	70.7%	★★★★☆
2012	79.4	97 of 662	85.3%	★★★★☆
2011	78.2	108 of 648	83.3%	★★★★☆
2010	81.8	69 of 640	89.2%	★★★★☆
2009	82.4	69 of 630	89.0%	★★★★☆
2008	87.7	40 of 620	93.5%	★★★★★
2007	82.9	47 of 606	92.2%	★★★★★
2006	84.9	40 of 598	93.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.5	50 of 731	93.2%	★★★★★
2025	83.9	93 of 733	87.3%	★★★★☆
2024	92.4	40 of 738	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	82.4	107 of 731	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	92.1	47 of 733	93.6%	★★★★★
2021	81.2	102 of 706	85.6%	★★★★☆
2019	78.8	127 of 684	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	61.0	265 of 656	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	86 of 562	84.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	92.0	31 of 725	95.7%	★★★★★
2025	94.0	24 of 729	96.7%	★★★★★
2024	89.9	43 of 743	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	82.1	75 of 735	89.8%	★★★★☆
2022	88.6	37 of 689	94.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	96.5	20 of 736	97.3%	★★★★★
2025	95.1	31 of 733	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	90.3	57 of 751	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	82.5	115 of 747	84.6%	★★★★☆
2022	80.6	124 of 748	83.4%	★★★★☆
2021	75.0	158 of 711	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	74.0	156 of 697	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.5	149 of 665	77.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.7	74 of 644	88.5%	★★★★☆
2025	88.0	63 of 649	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	84.4	91 of 652	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	144 of 656	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.7	111 of 658	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	63.8	204 of 632	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.0	230 of 624	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.3	277 of 596	53.5%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.4	218 of 662	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.5	324 of 641	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.6	219 of 640	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.9	226 of 626	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.4	261 of 621	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.0	267 of 594	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.0	75 of 514	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	52.3	200 of 469	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.6	103 of 476	78.4%	★★★★☆
2016	49.9	163 of 507	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	47.7	197 of 531	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	43.5	199 of 451	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	43.8	198 of 505	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	76.9	34 of 502	93.2%	★★★★★
2011	68.6	98 of 506	80.6%	★★★★☆
2010	73.5	51 of 499	89.8%	★★★★☆
2009	59.3	176 of 490	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	41.1	314 of 477	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.8	246 of 453	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	67.4	91 of 431	78.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	73.0	43 of 369	88.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.4	259 of 629	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.4	342 of 610	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	74.1	161 of 602	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	59.6	230 of 588	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.0	213 of 594	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.9	151 of 475	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.3	123 of 475	74.1%	★★★★☆
2018	49.0	230 of 449	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.9	153 of 620	75.3%	★★★★☆
2025	36.9	360 of 606	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	72.7	139 of 613	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	116 of 597	80.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.3	131 of 624	79.0%	★★★★☆
2025	48.3	292 of 601	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.5	294 of 607	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	235 of 602	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.8	298 of 585	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.5	187 of 481	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.7	50 of 488	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	52.4	191 of 463	58.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.8	177 of 551	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.3	324 of 542	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.5	307 of 553	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.0	238 of 537	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.7	294 of 534	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.0	191 of 439	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.6	85 of 444	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	56.3	165 of 427	61.4%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2026)98th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)97th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2026)95th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)91st percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)67th percentile-22 vs school

Middle school

Male (2026)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile~ school

Female (2026)93rd percentile~ school

White (2026)89th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)85th percentile-9 vs school

High school

African American (2019)88th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)79th percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)68th percentile~ school

Female (2026)59th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Biology93%+34 vs state

English II90%+25 vs state

Science85%+17 vs state

Mathematics85%+25 vs state

Reading79%+23 vs state

Math III66%-3 vs state

Math I34%-8 vs state

3.5

2 ratings

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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Schools Near River Mill Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
River Mill Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	235 Cheeks Lane	Graham	27253	Alamance County	River Mill Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(336) 229-0909	780	47	16.4	—	489 (62.7%)	113 (14.5%)	122 (15.6%)	11 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.6%)								(n/a)	92.9	89.7	34.5	65.9	83.8	82.6	87.3	74.2	83.9	98.1	64.7	73.9	69.0	93.5	85.5	90.6	80.3	90.6
The Hawbridge School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1735 Saxapahaw Bethlehem Churc	Saxapahaw	27340	Alamance County	The Hawbridge School	Yes	No	No	No	(336) 376-1122	597	42	14.2	—	459 (76.9%)	22 (3.7%)	68 (11.4%)	12 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.0%)								(n/a)	77.6	88.0	57.8	75.8	52.6	73.8	48.9	46.8	65.2	62.3	65.8	61.9	57.4	55.3	73.9	71.7	66.0	84.9
Clover Garden	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2454 Altamahaw Union Ridge Roa	Burlington	27217	Alamance County	Clover Garden	Yes	No	No	Yes	(336) 586-9440	963	48	20.1	—	763 (79.2%)	64 (6.6%)	67 (7.0%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (6.5%)								(n/a)	36.4	77.4	53.5	96.2	80.6	50.0	78.6	55.8	52.3	46.5	66.7	55.4	67.6	59.0	53.4	58.1	76.1	60.5
Eno River Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1212 NC Highway 57 North	Hillsborough	27278	Orange County	Eno River Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(919) 644-6272	828	62	13.2	—	641 (77.4%)	36 (4.3%)	72 (8.7%)	10 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	67 (8.1%)								(n/a)	80.4	87.4	55.9	92.6	66.7	75.0	60.0	74.6	73.0	72.1	73.8	65.0	77.5	69.8	71.4	73.8	75.0	85.2
Gateway Education Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	3205 East Wendover Aveune	Greensboro	27405	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 375-2575	146	18	8.2	97.9%	32 (21.9%)	88 (60.3%)	18 (12.3%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)								(n/a)																			$87,297	$6,116	$81,180

Frequently Asked Questions about River Mill Academy

What is the racial makeup of River Mill Academy?

Students at River Mill Academy are 63% White, 16% Hispanic, 14% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is River Mill Academy in?

River Mill Academy

Is River Mill Academy a good school?

River Mill Academy ranks 161^st of 1492 North Carolina alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend River Mill Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 780 students attended River Mill Academy.

Rate River Mill Academy!

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Schools in Graham, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.