Southwestern Randolph Middle School

Southwestern Randolph Middle School in Asheboro, NC, serves about 467 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Randolph County School System. While the district ranks in the bottom half of North Carolina districts, Southwestern Randolph stands out as the area's academic leader, ranking #333 out of 778 middle schools statewide — in the 57th percentile with a 3-star rating — and has trended upward in recent years.

Academically, the school outperforms nearly every nearby middle school. Average proficiency across tested subjects is roughly 59%, well above the district's 49% and essentially even with the state's 58%. As the highest-ranked school in its local peer group, Southwestern Randolph posts stronger math and reading results than nearby schools such as Wheatmore Middle School, Northeastern Randolph Middle School, and Randleman Middle School. In 6th grade reading, for example, proficiency is 61.2% compared with a 41%–48% range at most neighbor schools, and 7th grade reading sits at 62.3%, well ahead of the next-closest competitor. The one clear weak spot is 8th grade: math (49.7%) and reading (49.0%) both fall below state averages even though 6th and 7th grade results exceed them — a pattern worth investigating before students head to high school.

The school also deserves recognition for results its peer schools often struggle to achieve. Chronic absenteeism is 20.8%, lower than the district's 22.5%, the state's 24.2%, and most neighboring middle schools. Since 99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, attendance and engagement at this level is a meaningful strength. Economically disadvantaged students perform in the 62nd percentile statewide, and special education students have climbed from the 18th to the 61st percentile in two years. English learners (36th percentile) and gifted/talented students (26th percentile, down sharply from last year) are the groups needing the most support. It's also worth noting that nearby Asheboro City Schools middle schools — North Asheboro Middle and South Asheboro Middle — spend more per student and carry smaller class sizes, yet Southwestern Randolph still posts higher proficiency in math and reading.