Dillard Academy

Dillard Academy is a small K-8 school in Goldsboro, NC, serving 261 students, with about 95% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Unlike most nearby schools, it is not part of Wayne County Public Schools; instead, it operates as its own district, meaning the school itself is the Local Education Agency.

Currently, Dillard is one of the lowest-performing schools in North Carolina, ranking in the bottom 1% statewide. Math proficiency is a particular concern, with only about 26% of students in grades 3-8 proficient versus a state average of roughly 60%. Reading is comparatively stronger in upper grades — 8th grade reading essentially matches the state average. What makes these numbers striking is that high poverty does not explain the results alone. Nearby schools like Northwest Elementary, Rosewood Elementary, and Meadow Lane Elementary serve student bodies with poverty rates above 98% yet perform in the top half of schools statewide. Even the closest neighbor, Carver Heights Elementary, also sits in the bottom 2%, while other high-poverty schools such as Tommy's Road Elementary and Brogden Primary rank far higher.

Dillard also struggles with attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 43.9% is sharply improved from 63.0% last year but still nearly double the state rate of 24.2% and well above most neighboring schools. Dillard is the only K-8 school in its comparison group — nearby schools serve elementary grades only — which means it must provide instruction across nine grade levels with a small staff. Small enrollment also makes year-to-year test scores highly volatile, so trends should be read cautiously. Still, the overall data is clear: Dillard needs significant, sustained improvement, especially in mathematics. The recent attendance gains and relatively strong middle-grade reading results provide small pockets of hope to build on.