William R Davie Middle S.T.E.M. Academy

William R Davie Middle S.T.E.M. Academy serves 243 students in grades 6–8 in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, as part of Halifax County Schools, and nearly all of its students — 98.8% — qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school currently ranks in the 6th percentile statewide, placing 732nd out of 778 North Carolina middle schools with a 0-star rating. Math proficiency ranges from just 19.8% to 23.2% across grades 6, 7, and 8, compared with state averages near 53–59%, while reading proficiency sits between 24.4% and 37.8%, roughly half the state average. The clearest bright spot is 8th grade science, where 51.2% of students scored proficient — above the district average of 49.3%.

A nearby comparison makes the challenge clear. Chaloner Middle School, located only about five miles away in Roanoke Rapids City Schools, serves an even slightly higher share of low-income students (99.5%), yet its proficiency rates are roughly two to three times higher in most subjects, and it ranks in the 54th percentile statewide. Within Halifax County Schools itself, Enfield Middle S.T.E.A.M. Academy outperforms Davie in 6th and 8th grade math, while Davie is stronger in 7th grade math and 8th grade science — evidence that results vary noticeably by grade and cohort.

Chronic absenteeism is a defining challenge: 58.4% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, more than twice the state average of 24.2% and well above the rates at nearby comparison schools. Attendance strongly predicts test proficiency, so this is likely a major barrier to growth. The school also spends a relatively high $15,710 per student and maintains a 15:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes remain low — resources alone are not moving the needle. There are encouraging gains since 2022–23, such as 6th grade math rising from 5.8% to 22.4%, but the school has fallen from mid-teens percentile rankings a few years ago to the bottom 6% of the state. Reversing that long-term decline will require coordinated work on attendance, curriculum, and instructional leadership.