Weldon Middle

Weldon Middle is a small public school in Halifax, NC, serving just 133 students in grades 6-8 as part of Weldon City Schools. The school serves a very high-need population, with roughly 98% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Academically, Weldon Middle currently ranks 742nd out of 778 North Carolina middle schools — the 5th percentile — and has earned a 0-star rating for its performance.

Test scores at Weldon Middle trail state averages by wide margins in nearly every subject and grade. In 6th-grade math, just 22.2% of students scored proficient compared to 59.2% statewide, and similar gaps appear in reading and 8th-grade science. Nearby schools serving demographically similar populations are producing far stronger results. Chaloner Middle School, located only 6.3 miles away in Roanoke Rapids City Schools, has the highest poverty rate of the group yet ranks at the 54th percentile statewide and scores 25-48 points higher in several subjects. Enfield Middle S.T.E.A.M. Academy also outperforms Weldon in many areas, and even William R Davie Middle S.T.E.M. Academy, which ranks just ahead at the 6th percentile, posts comparable or better results in most subjects.

Chronic absenteeism stands out as a major concern: 44% of Weldon Middle students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, nearly double the state rate of 24.2% and well above Chaloner Middle's 32.6%. This is striking because the school has substantial resources, spending roughly $15,900 per student with a low 12.9 student-teacher ratio. Despite these investments, Weldon Middle has ranked in the bottom 5-8 percentile for five consecutive years, and every reported student subgroup has declined since 2023-2024 — a sign that the school's challenges are systemic rather than isolated. Improving attendance and instructional effectiveness will likely be essential for reversing the downward trend.