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Nakina Middle

Q: Is Nakina Middle a good school?

Nakina Middle ranks 318 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

318^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 59% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Nakina Middle is a small rural school in Nakina, NC, serving 194 students in grades 5–8 within Columbus County Schools. While the district carries a one-star rating and ranks in the bottom third of North Carolina districts, Nakina has consistently earned three stars and ranked near the 60th percentile statewide in recent years. This is a high-poverty school — roughly 97–99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — yet its student-teacher ratio of 16.3 is reasonable, and chronic absenteeism in 2024–2025 is 23.7%, below both the district rate of 29.3% and the state rate of 24.2%.

The school’s biggest strength is literacy and science in the upper grades. In 2025–2026, 8th-grade reading proficiency reached 97.6%, far exceeding the state’s 56.1%, while 8th-grade science hit 83.3% versus 68.6% statewide. Nearby Shallotte Middle holds a slightly higher overall ranking, but that is almost entirely due to math: Nakina beats Shallotte in 7th- and 8th-grade reading and in 8th-grade science. Central Middle likewise posts stronger math scores, yet Nakina beats Central decisively in every reading level and in science. Where Nakina struggles is mathematics — only 35.7% of 8th graders were proficient in math, well below the state’s 53.0% and below both comparison schools.

Equity results are a nuanced picture. Low-income students at Nakina perform at the 78th percentile statewide, a genuinely strong outcome given that nearly all students are low-income. Male and Hispanic students also rank well above average statewide. However, female, White, and identified gifted students rank closer to the middle of the pack, so the school’s effectiveness varies by group. The most pressing concern is the incoming 5th-grade cohort: only 21.6% of 5th graders are proficient in math, versus 62.9% statewide, and 5th-grade reading and science have declined sharply over the past few years. With only 194 students, small numbers can swing percentages dramatically, but the overall picture is clear — Nakina delivers exceptional literacy results by grades 7 and 8, while math and the 5th-grade transition are the areas to watch.

194

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9822 Seven Creeks Hwy
Nakina, NC 28455

(910) 642-8301

District: Columbus County Schools

Students who attend Nakina Middle usually attend:

High:

South Columbus High

Feeder schools for Nakina Middle:

Elementary:

Old Dock Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.3%

Hispanic:

27.8%

African American:

7.7%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Nakina Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 61st percentile in 2016 → 59th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Mathematics scores 17 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg44%

North Carolina avg59%

318^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

176^th of 246Columbus County Schools among North Carolina districts

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

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	318 of 778	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.3	336 of 773	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	293 of 793	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.1	279 of 784	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.8	314 of 786	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.5	243 of 741	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.7	204 of 737	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	59.3	290 of 691	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.3	412 of 694	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	60.4	270 of 692	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	53.5	332 of 705	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	46.8	321 of 627	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.9	458 of 673	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	58.8	319 of 662	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.3	325 of 648	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	48.3	401 of 640	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	51.6	368 of 630	41.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	47.2	257 of 559	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.1	454 of 519	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	54.5	183 of 494	63.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	47.0	397 of 731	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.4	366 of 733	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	346 of 738	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.2	268 of 731	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.6	323 of 733	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.1	291 of 706	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.6	154 of 684	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	52.2	338 of 656	48.5%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.0	402 of 465	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.1	423 of 448	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	50.2	278 of 416	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	178 of 566	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.6	101 of 562	82.0%	★★★★☆
2024	52.6	248 of 564	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	105 of 553	81.0%	★★★★☆
2022	65.2	140 of 541	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	68.4	100 of 522	80.8%	★★★★☆
2019	73.0	83 of 493	83.2%	★★★★☆
2018	39.0	313 of 472	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.2	163 of 725	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	61.4	223 of 729	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.4	150 of 743	79.8%	★★★★☆
2023	70.5	155 of 735	78.9%	★★★★☆
2022	57.8	247 of 689	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.8	156 of 633	75.4%	★★★★☆
2019	83.8	51 of 639	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	47.2	324 of 604	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.3	198 of 736	73.1%	★★★★☆
2025	58.6	274 of 733	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.4	238 of 751	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.2	272 of 747	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	277 of 748	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.3	210 of 711	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	64.9	236 of 697	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.0	232 of 665	65.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.8	349 of 644	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.7	378 of 649	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.7	356 of 652	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.0	329 of 656	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.4	350 of 658	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.7	279 of 632	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.5	197 of 624	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.9	208 of 596	65.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile+18 vs school

Male (2026)73rd percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2026)69th percentile+9 vs school

African American (2023)54th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)46th percentile-13 vs school

Female (2026)46th percentile-13 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)14th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Reading66%+11 vs state

Science63%-5 vs state

Mathematics41%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Nakina Middle

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th 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
Nakina Middle	Public	5-8	9822 Seven Creeks Hwy	Nakina	28455	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-8301	194	12	16.3	97.4%	117 (60.3%)	15 (7.7%)	54 (27.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	58.3	318^th of 778 public middle schools	59.1%		54.3	336^th of 773 public middle schools	56.5%	18	21.6	50.0	50.0	35.7	40.5	53.2	78.0	97.6	40.5	83.3	$9,493	$1,505	$7,989
Central Middle	Public	6-8	310 S Martin L King Jr Ave	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-3546	451	27	16.5	99.3%	161 (35.7%)	193 (42.8%)	64 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	40	478^th of 778 public middle schools	38.6%		42.2	457^th of 773 public middle schools	40.9%	21		50.4	63.4	45.0		39.1	52.3	47.0		59.7	$10,356	$1,869	$8,486
Shallotte Middle	Public	6-8	225 Village Road	Shallotte	28459	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 756-6130	627	38	16.4	99.5%	358 (57.1%)	74 (11.8%)	151 (24.1%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	34 (5.4%)	64.1	257^th of 778 public middle schools	67.0%		65.6	247^th of 773 public middle schools	68.0%	10		60.5	60.4	64.1		53.9	65.1	64.1		71.8	$9,879	$1,104	$8,775

Frequently Asked Questions about Nakina Middle

Is Nakina Middle a good school?

Nakina Middle ranks 318^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Nakina Middle attend?

Students who attend Nakina Middle usually go on to attend South Columbus High

What district is Nakina Middle in?

Columbus County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Nakina Middle?

Students at Nakina Middle are 60% White, 28% Hispanic, 8% African American, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Nakina Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 194 students attended Nakina Middle.

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Schools in Nakina, 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.