South Robeson Middle School

South Robeson Middle School serves 344 students in grades 6–8 in Rowland, NC, and is part of the Public Schools of Robeson County. The school currently holds a 0-star rating and ranks 715th out of 778 North Carolina middle schools, placing it in the 8th percentile statewide — a position it has held fairly consistently over the past five years.

One of the most pressing challenges at South Robeson is chronic absenteeism. More than half of students (55.3%) were chronically absent in the most recent school year, which is more than double the state average of 24.2% and well above the district average of 42.1%. Test scores also lag well behind state averages. For example, only 25.2% of 6th graders and 23.0% of 8th graders scored proficient in reading, compared to state averages of 54.8% and 56.1%. Nearly all students (99.13%) qualify for free/reduced lunch, and even when compared to other schools serving high-poverty populations, South Robeson ranks in the bottom 10th percentile for low-income students, indicating significant room for growth.

There are some bright spots worth noting. Grade 7 students matched or exceeded district averages in both math and reading, and the school outperforms Fairmont Middle, located just 8.4 miles away, by wide margins in nearly every subject. For instance, 6th grade math proficiency is 40.5% at South Robeson compared to just 11.5% at Fairmont. However, CIS Academy, a school about 10 miles away with lower poverty and absenteeism rates, produces dramatically higher test scores — 58.1% of its 8th graders are proficient in reading versus 23.0% at South Robeson. This comparison highlights how closely attendance and poverty track with academic outcomes. While overall rankings remain low, the school's relative strength serving Native American students and its stronger 7th grade performance may offer building blocks for future improvement.