Princeton High

Princeton High in Princeton, North Carolina, serves 988 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of Johnston County Public Schools, and, like most schools in the surrounding area, it serves a predominantly low-income community where more than 99% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has typically ranked near the middle of North Carolina over the past decade, holding 3-star ratings for several consecutive years before a recent drop to a 2-star rating.

The school's biggest strengths are attendance, graduation, and math. Only 8% of Princeton High students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, far below the district rate of 21.8% and the state rate of 24.2%—and dramatically better than nearby Smithfield-Selma High at 41.5%, North Johnston High at 30.3%, and Goldsboro High at 54.1%. Its graduation rate reached 92.4%, above the state average of 87.7% and higher than most traditional high schools nearby. Students also perform consistently well in mathematics: proficiency rates for 6th through 8th grade math, plus Math I and Math III end-of-course exams, all exceed district and state averages, making math a clear academic highlight.

English and science results are less encouraging. English II proficiency was 53.6%, roughly 11 points behind the state average, and Biology proficiency was 50.9% versus 58.5% statewide; reading scores in 7th and 8th grades also lagged slightly. Performance varies across student groups from year to year, and the school's climate appears strong—students consistently show up and graduate at notable rates. Still, improving literacy and science achievement, along with narrowing achievement gaps among different groups of students, would help raise Princeton High's statewide standing.