Person Early College Innovation & Leadership

Person Early College Innovation & Leadership (PECIL) is a small early college high school in Roxboro, North Carolina, serving 142 students in grades 9–12 through Person County Schools. Located on a community college campus, the school historically ranked in the 61st–71st percentile statewide, but its most recent rating fell to the 47th percentile (2 stars), marking a notable decline after several years of solid performance.

PECIL's biggest strengths are attendance and academics compared with traditional district schools. Chronic absenteeism is just 7.6%, far below the district average of 24.9% and Person High's 34.1% — all the more striking since nearly 98% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In 2025-26, PECIL beat Person High by wide margins in Biology (62.2% vs. 47.7%), English II (72.4% vs. 50.5%), and Math III (57.9% vs. 49.5%). In 2024-25, the gaps were even larger, with PECIL outpacing Person High by roughly 30 points in English II, Math I, and Biology. The school also achieves these results at a lower reported per-pupil cost.

Still, math is a clear vulnerability. Math I proficiency fell to 41.4%, below Person High and the district, and Math III runs about 11 points below the state average. The school also trails Roxboro Community School by nearly 40 points in Math III (57.9% vs. 97.2%). The recent ranking dip reflects broader weakening across student groups, including male and low-income students who were previously standouts. A graduation rate swing from 94.4% to 75.0% and a reported 71:1 student-teacher ratio add to the concerns. With only 142 students, year-to-year swings can be dramatic, so PECIL's foundation of strong attendance and past success with high-need students suggests this may be a rough patch rather than a collapse — but math and graduation trends deserve close attention.