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Bethel Middle

Q: Is Bethel Middle a good school?

Bethel Middle ranks 181 st of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

181^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 77% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Bethel Middle is a small public school in Waynesville, NC, serving 254 students in grades 6–8 as part of Haywood County Schools. It currently ranks in the top quarter of North Carolina middle schools with a 4-star rating and is the highest-ranked middle school in the local area, though its standing has softened from a 5-star peak a few years ago.

Academically, Bethel outpaces district and state averages in nearly every subject. Science is a standout, with roughly 84% of 8th graders proficient in the latest year, well above the state average of 68.6%. Eighth-grade math has also been remarkably stable, hovering near 74% for four straight years — about 21 points above the state. Reading is solid in 6th and 8th grades, too. The one visible concern is 7th-grade math, which dropped sharply to 55.1% in the most recent year, below the district average of 62.1% and just shy of the state average of 56.2%. That is especially puzzling because 7th-grade math was a major strength — 83.3% — the year before, suggesting a cohort-specific issue at this small school rather than a broader decline.

Bethel stands out most for its attendance and its success with students who face economic challenges. Only about 16.7% of students are chronically absent, compared with roughly 24% statewide and 27–28% at nearby Waynesville Middle and Canton Middle. Despite serving a predominantly low-income population, Bethel posts strong outcomes for low-income and special-education students, placing in the 82nd and 79th percentiles statewide for those groups. All told, Bethel remains a positive outlier among high-poverty middle schools in western North Carolina — not the 5-star school it once was, but still a strong, reliable choice for families in the Waynesville area.

254

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

630 Sonoma Road
Waynesville, NC 28786-9547

(828) 646-3442

District: Haywood County Schools

Students who attend Bethel Middle usually attend:

High:

Pisgah High

Feeder schools for Bethel Middle:

Elementary:

Bethel Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.8%

Hispanic:

6.3%

Two or more races:

3.5%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Bethel Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2016 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (69% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of North Carolina middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg63%

North Carolina avg58%

181^st of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

64^th of 246Haywood 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	74.0	181 of 778	76.7%	★★★★☆
2025	81.9	117 of 773	84.9%	★★★★☆
2024	88.8	74 of 793	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.9	53 of 784	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	84.7	99 of 786	87.4%	★★★★☆
2021	79.1	144 of 741	80.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.3	158 of 737	78.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.3	154 of 691	77.7%	★★★★☆
2017	76.9	135 of 694	80.5%	★★★★☆
2016	80.6	107 of 692	84.5%	★★★★☆
2015	79.1	127 of 705	82.0%	★★★★☆
2014	72.2	151 of 627	75.9%	★★★★☆
2013	59.1	242 of 673	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.2	236 of 662	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	64.7	254 of 648	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.6	257 of 640	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	62.6	264 of 630	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.3	249 of 620	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.0	136 of 606	77.6%	★★★★☆
2006	69.5	165 of 598	72.4%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	79.7	38 of 449	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	79.0	27 of 478	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	41.4	280 of 504	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.8	321 of 475	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.7	207 of 731	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	80.8	118 of 733	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	84.6	93 of 738	87.4%	★★★★☆
2023	89.0	63 of 731	91.4%	★★★★★
2022	89.8	57 of 733	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	79.0	126 of 706	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	69.4	190 of 684	72.2%	★★★★☆
2018	73.8	152 of 656	76.8%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	109 of 465	76.6%	★★★★☆
2025	64.8	158 of 458	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.7	22 of 452	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	82.5	1 of 450	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	72.4	82 of 448	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	60.3	188 of 416	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.7	134 of 725	81.5%	★★★★☆
2025	90.6	35 of 729	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	30 of 743	96.0%	★★★★★
2023	94.9	21 of 735	97.1%	★★★★★
2022	89.2	34 of 689	95.1%	★★★★★
2021	86.8	34 of 633	94.6%	★★★★★
2019	79.1	76 of 639	88.1%	★★★★☆
2018	77.6	79 of 604	86.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	151 of 736	79.5%	★★★★☆
2025	81.4	113 of 733	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	89.9	59 of 751	92.1%	★★★★★
2023	92.6	41 of 747	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	77.1	151 of 748	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.2	148 of 711	79.2%	★★★★☆
2019	78.9	120 of 697	82.8%	★★★★☆
2018	73.5	159 of 665	76.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	104 of 500	79.2%	★★★★☆
2025	50.7	152 of 478	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.9	51 of 473	89.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.6	278 of 644	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.9	207 of 649	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.2	150 of 652	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	78.4	130 of 656	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	66.6	203 of 658	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.1	226 of 632	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.5	274 of 624	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.9	303 of 596	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)79th percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2026)79th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)77th percentile~ school

Female (2026)72nd percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)57th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science84%+15 vs state

Mathematics67%+11 vs state

Reading65%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bethel 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Bethel Middle	Public	6-8	630 Sonoma Road	Waynesville	28786	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 646-3442	254	16	15.4	—	228 (89.8%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.5%)	74	181^st of 778 public middle schools	76.7%		81.9	117^th of 773 public middle schools	84.9%	64		71.6	55.1	74.1		69.3	57.8	69.4		83.5	$11,023	$637	$10,386
Canton Middle	Public	6-8	60 Penland St	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 646-3467	475	31	15.3	—	399 (84.0%)	3 (0.6%)	50 (10.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	60.8	288^th of 778 public middle schools	63.0%		60.1	282^nd of 773 public middle schools	63.5%	6		63.2	62.3	65.8		50.6	59.9	49.1		79.6	$9,141	$940	$8,202
Waynesville Middle	Public	6-8	495 Brown Ave	Waynesville	28786	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 456-2403	727	45	16.0	97.2%	606 (83.4%)	3 (0.4%)	78 (10.7%)	7 (1.0%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.7%)	63	270^th of 778 public middle schools	65.3%		54.9	328^th of 773 public middle schools	57.6%	58		62.8	64.7	63.6		57.8	60.7	56.1		70.3	$9,343	$1,182	$8,162
Enka Middle	Public	7-8	390 Asbury Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 670-5010	588	37	16.0	—	379 (64.5%)	28 (4.8%)	146 (24.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (5.1%)	34.8	515^th of 778 public middle schools	33.8%		30.2	546^th of 773 public middle schools	29.4%	31			44.5	40.9			47.5	45.7		66.9	$9,775	$826	$8,949
Enka Intermediate	Public	5-6	125 Asheville Commerce Parkway	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 255-1380	585	39	14.8	—	380 (65.0%)	22 (3.8%)	154 (26.3%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.4%)								(n/a)	54.9	52.0			51.6	49.1			67.2		$9,013	$1,227	$7,786
Erwin Middle	Public	7-8	20 Erwin Middle School Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4264	545	40	13.7	—	277 (50.8%)	40 (7.3%)	194 (35.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.5%)	23 (4.2%)	18.9	659^th of 778 public middle schools	15.3%		19.8	639^th of 773 public middle schools	17.3%	20			43.0	28.6			41.9	34.4		50.8	$9,336	$764	$8,571
Brevard Middle	Public	6-8	400 Fisher Rd	Brevard	28712	Transylvania County	Transylvania County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 884-2091	472	40	11.8	—	335 (71.0%)	16 (3.4%)	78 (16.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.3%)	68.6	217^th of 778 public middle schools	72.1%		53.7	345^th of 773 public middle schools	55.4%	128		63.9	62.9	69.5		58.6	60.1	64.3		77.9	$10,976	$1,048	$9,927
Eblen Intermediate	Public	5-6	59 Lee's Creek Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 255-5757	566	38	14.9	—	301 (53.2%)	49 (8.7%)	187 (33.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.4%)	22 (3.9%)								(n/a)	50.2	51.3			44.0	42.3			59.0		$9,206	$1,398	$7,808
Valley Springs Middle	Public	5-8	224 Long Shoals Road	Arden	28704	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 654-1785	654	46	14.3	—	335 (51.2%)	71 (10.9%)	176 (26.9%)	21 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	45 (6.9%)	69.8	209^th of 778 public middle schools	73.1%		62.6	265^th of 773 public middle schools	65.7%	56			58.3	70.8			58.6	64.0		81.2	$11,876	$1,485	$10,391
Catamount School	Public	6-8	1 University Drive Reid 100	Cullowhee	28723	Jackson County	Catamount School	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 227-7500	64	6	10.1	37.5%	53 (82.8%)	1 (1.6%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.3%)	66.7	231^st of 778 public middle schools	70.3%		67	232^nd of 773 public middle schools	70.0%	1		64.0	61.9	60.0		48.0	61.9	76.0		80.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethel Middle

Is Bethel Middle a good school?

Bethel Middle ranks 181^st of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bethel Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 254 students attended Bethel Middle.

What high school do graduates of Bethel Middle attend?

Students who attend Bethel Middle usually go on to attend Pisgah High

What is the racial makeup of Bethel Middle?

Students at Bethel Middle are 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Bethel Middle in?

Haywood County Schools

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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.