Central Davidson High

Central Davidson High serves roughly 897 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Davidson County Schools district in the Lexington, NC area. The district holds a 3-star rating, while Central Davidson currently carries 2 stars, placing it at the 42nd percentile among North Carolina high schools. About 55 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 17.7 to 1. Academically, the school presents a mixed picture: students post scores close to state averages in Biology, English II, and Math III, and chronic absenteeism has dropped to 11 percent — far better than the statewide average of about 24 percent.

Parents may find some genuine bright spots. Students identified as gifted and talented recently earned a 5-star rating and ranked at the 91st percentile statewide — a dramatic improvement over prior years. Economically disadvantaged students have also trended upward, reaching the 48th percentile. Solid Math III results suggest that students who reach advanced math coursework can perform well; the struggle happens earlier.

Indeed, the clearest concern is ninth-grade math readiness. Only 27.8 percent of Central Davidson students scored proficient on the Math I end-of-course exam — roughly 12 points below the district average and 14 points below the state average. Nearby East Davidson High and North Davidson High both post stronger Math I results, and Lexington Senior High School — despite serving far more low-income families — also beats Central Davidson in both math proficiency and graduation rate. Central Davidson's graduation rate sits at 83.9 percent, below the district's 88.3 percent and the state's 88.8 percent. With attendance no longer a major obstacle, the graduation gap points to coursework and support challenges rather than chronic absence.