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Central Middle School

Q: Is Central Middle School a good school?

Central Middle School ranks 439 th of 773 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

439^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 773 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 43% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Central Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Gatesville, North Carolina, with 347 students. The school is part of the Gates County Schools district, which is ranked 156 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Central Middle School has consistently been rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger over the past 10 years, indicating it is performing below average compared to other middle schools in North Carolina.

Central Middle School's test scores are generally below the state averages across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in math ranged from 52.4% to 60.2%, compared to the state averages of 57.2% to 53.5%. In reading, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 40.6% to 49.6%, compared to the state averages of 52.3% to 54.2%. The school's science proficiency rate of 48.9% in 8th grade was also significantly lower than the state average of 60.1%. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 40.11% to 54.76% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Interestingly, the nearby Chowan Middle school, which is part of the Edenton-Chowan Schools district, has similar performance metrics to Central Middle School, with both schools ranking in the bottom half of North Carolina middle schools. This suggests that the challenges facing Central Middle School may be reflective of broader issues within the region's educational system.

336

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,918

Per pupil spending ?

52.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

362 US Hwy 158 W
Gatesville, NC 27938-9434

(252) 357-0470

District: Gates County Schools

Students who attend Central Middle School usually attend:

High:

Gates County Senior High

Feeder schools for Central Middle School:

Elementary:	Buckland Elementary
	Gatesville Elementary
	T S Cooper Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.7%

African American:

25.3%

Two or more races:

8.0%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 33rd percentile in 2021 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 43rd (2025) from a 33rd-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 11 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg50%

North Carolina avg54%

439^th of 773

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 50% (2015) to bottom 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

156^th of 242Gates 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
2025	44.0	439 of 773	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.2	514 of 793	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.2	522 of 784	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.7	490 of 786	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.7	496 of 741	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.3	375 of 737	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.5	380 of 691	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.0	366 of 694	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	48.2	370 of 692	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	51.6	355 of 705	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	45.4	328 of 627	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.4	391 of 673	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.2	391 of 662	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.4	422 of 648	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	49.1	396 of 640	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.0	422 of 630	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	31.4	466 of 620	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	43.8	408 of 606	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.5	407 of 598	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	45.3	268 of 546	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.5	394 of 560	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.0	339 of 559	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.9	324 of 550	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.4	439 of 533	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.3	238 of 519	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.5	178 of 494	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	51.6	148 of 449	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.2	208 of 478	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	29.7	393 of 504	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.0	344 of 475	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	468 of 733	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.2	459 of 738	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.1	504 of 731	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.2	438 of 733	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.3	455 of 706	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.5	293 of 684	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.5	336 of 656	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.9	412 of 458	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.4	409 of 461	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.1	392 of 452	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	46.4	318 of 450	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.5	420 of 448	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	54.2	245 of 416	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	38.0	459 of 729	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.5	499 of 743	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.1	567 of 735	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.5	350 of 689	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.0	310 of 633	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.0	313 of 639	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.6	255 of 604	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.8	379 of 733	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.0	514 of 751	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	494 of 747	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.9	493 of 748	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.7	492 of 711	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.8	414 of 697	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	398 of 665	40.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.1	153 of 478	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.9	197 of 473	58.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	444 of 649	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.5	519 of 652	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.1	558 of 656	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	509 of 658	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.2	489 of 632	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.6	363 of 624	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.7	442 of 596	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)68th percentile+25 vs school

Disabled (2022)67th percentile+29 vs school

African American (2025)51st percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)48th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)37th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2025)36th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)32nd percentile-12 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)10th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics56%+3 vs state

Science49%-11 vs state

Reading44%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Middle School	Public	6-8	362 US Hwy 158 W	Gatesville	27938	Gates County	Gates County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 357-0470	336	23	14.6	52.7%	204 (60.7%)	85 (25.3%)	19 (5.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.0%)	44	439^th of 773 public middle schools	43.2%		37.2	514^th of 793 public middle schools	35.2%	75	52.4	60.2	54.3	40.6	49.6	41.5	48.9	$9,918	$561	$9,357
Chowan Middle	Public	6-8	2845 Virginia Road	Tyner	27980	Chowan County	Edenton-Chowan Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 221-4131	357	28	12.5	99.2%	135 (37.8%)	154 (43.1%)	50 (14.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	31.6	530^th of 773 public middle schools	31.4%		41.1	475^th of 793 public middle schools	40.1%	55	46.0	33.6	48.6	42.9	40.0	42.5	51.8	$11,067	$622	$10,445

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Middle School

How many students attend Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 336 students attended Central Middle School.

Is Central Middle School a good school?

Central Middle School ranks 439^th of 773 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Middle School in?

Gates County Schools

What high school do graduates of Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend Central Middle School usually go on to attend Gates County Senior High

What is the racial makeup of Central Middle School?

Students at Central Middle School are 61% White, 25% African American, 8% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

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NCNorth Carolina Middle School Rankings

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Schools in Gatesville, NC

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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.