SandHoke Early College High

SandHoke Early College High in Raeford, NC, is a small public high school serving 418 students in grades 9–12 as part of Hoke County Schools. The district ranks in the bottom quarter of North Carolina districts, but SandHoke is a striking exception: it consistently ranks in the top 10% of high schools statewide and has earned 5-star ratings in most recent years. What makes this even more notable is that about 99% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch, meaning this is a high-poverty school producing top-tier results.

SandHoke's test scores are remarkably high. On end-of-course exams, 96.8% of students scored proficient in Biology, 95.4% in English II, and 100% in Math III. These numbers dwarf district and state averages and far exceed nearby Hoke County High, which posted proficiency rates of just 49.8% in Biology, 43.5% in English II, and 69.2% in Math III. Even Jack Britt High, arguably the strongest traditional high school in the area, trails by roughly 20 points or more in every subject. SandHoke's graduation rate of 93.4% also towers over the district's 77.3% and Hoke County High's 74.8%. Chronic absenteeism tells a similar story: just 7.3% of SandHoke students are chronically absent, compared with 28.5% districtwide and 30% at Hoke County High.

The school's success extends across all student groups, with African American, Hispanic, low-income, and multi-racial students all ranking among the best in the state. This consistency suggests the school's early-college model — with college coursework, small cohorts, and strong student engagement — works systematically, not just for a select few. For parents, the bottom line is straightforward: SandHoke Early College High delivers exceptional academic outcomes for an almost entirely economically disadvantaged student body, making it the strongest academic performer in its immediate area and one of the best high schools in North Carolina.