Marjorie Williams Academy

Marjorie Williams Academy is a small K–12 alternative public school in Newland, NC, enrolling about 130 students from a rural mountain community where nearly all families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school operates as its own district (Marjorie Williams Academy), and with no other schools within 20 miles, North Carolina state averages are the best benchmark for comparison. What emerges is an uneven but encouraging picture.

The most striking success is attendance: chronic absenteeism has plummeted from 37.1% in 2021–22 to just 6.8% in 2024–25, far better than the statewide rate of 24.2%. Academically, the school shows real strengths in literacy and science by middle and high school. In 2024–25, 71.4% of 8th graders scored proficient in reading (versus 54.2% statewide) and 78.6% in science (versus 60.1%). English II results are especially strong, with 90% of test-takers proficient in 2025–26 compared to 64.6% statewide. A very low student-teacher ratio of about 6.5 to 1 provides ample room for individualized attention, which may help explain these gains.

That said, families should weigh real concerns alongside the bright spots. The most recent school graduation rate was just 41.2% in 2023–24, far below the state average of 86.9%, and no rate was reported for the most recent year — likely a reflection of very small cohort sizes. Elementary math is a clear weak area: only 36.4% of 4th graders and 33.3% of 5th graders were proficient in 2024–25, compared to roughly 59% statewide. Because enrollment is so small, test results can swing sharply from year to year, so single-year numbers deserve cautious interpretation. Still, the dramatic attendance turnaround and strong upper-grade reading outcomes suggest meaningful momentum that families may want to watch closely.