Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! North Carolina test scores for the 2025-26 school year were just released — SchoolDigger posted updated rankings TODAY.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Central Middle

Q: Is Central Middle a good school?

Central Middle ranks 478 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

478^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 39% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Central Middle in Whiteville, NC, serves roughly 451 students in grades 6–8 and sits in a high-poverty area where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school belongs to Whiteville City Schools, a district rated near the middle of North Carolina, but Central Middle's own state ranking has slipped from the 71st percentile (4 stars) in 2018–19 to the 39th percentile (2 stars) in 2025–26. That decline is broad-based, touching nearly every student subgroup over the past two years.

Despite the recent slide, Central Middle has several clear strengths. Its 7th-grade math proficiency reached 63.4% in 2025–26, above the state average of 56.2% and far ahead of nearby Bladenboro Middle (33.3%) and Orrum Middle (29.2%). The school also reports the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (22.4%) among all comparison schools, below the state average of 24.2% and a meaningful improvement from 31.3% just a year earlier. Gifted & Talented students are exceptionally well served, with that subgroup ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide (5 stars).

On the other hand, reading proficiency remains a concern: 6th–8th grade scores range from 39.1% to 52.3%, all below state averages. Special Education outcomes have plummeted from the 69th percentile in 2023–24 to the 8th percentile in 2025–26, a red flag that deserves attention. Compared with Nakina Middle, which posted unusually high reading scores on a very small enrollment, Central's larger student population provides a more stable picture of typical performance. Central still outranks Orrum and Bladenboro on most measures, and its student-teacher ratio of 16.5 is better than Bladenboro's 18.6, though not as favorable as Clarkton School of Discovery's 12.2 ratio.

451

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

310 S Martin L King Jr Ave
Whiteville, NC 28472

(910) 642-3546

District: Whiteville City Schools

Students who attend Central Middle usually attend:

High:

Whiteville High

Feeder schools for Central Middle:

Elementary:	Edgewood Elementary
	Whiteville Primary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

42.8%

White:

35.7%

Hispanic:

14.2%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Central Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 47th percentile in 2016 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (51% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg50%

North Carolina avg58%

478^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 47% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

126^th of 246Whiteville City Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.0	478 of 778	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.2	457 of 773	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.6	317 of 793	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.4	321 of 784	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	304 of 786	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.7	301 of 741	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.9	214 of 737	71.0%	★★★★☆
2018	66.8	228 of 691	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.2	239 of 694	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	49.4	366 of 692	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	60.2	273 of 705	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	47.1	317 of 627	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	67.0	179 of 673	73.4%	★★★★☆
2012	55.0	362 of 662	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	63.2	268 of 648	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.8	325 of 640	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	64.6	240 of 630	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	59.9	272 of 620	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	52.8	329 of 606	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	54.5	310 of 598	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.3	335 of 553	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.3	321 of 546	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.0	193 of 560	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.5	162 of 559	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	59.9	160 of 550	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	57.0	154 of 533	71.1%	★★★★☆
2019	73.6	81 of 519	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	68.7	93 of 494	81.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	41.3	221 of 449	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.2	48 of 478	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	69.8	82 of 504	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	65 of 475	86.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.6	142 of 363	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.2	136 of 371	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.5	36 of 356	89.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	529 of 731	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.4	469 of 733	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.9	317 of 738	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.2	270 of 731	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.6	266 of 733	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.4	240 of 706	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.0	203 of 684	70.3%	★★★★☆
2018	68.8	199 of 656	69.7%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.5	35 of 465	92.5%	★★★★★
2025	69.5	99 of 458	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	73.7	46 of 461	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	47.8	302 of 452	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	74.8	35 of 450	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	83.0	2 of 448	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	60.6	185 of 416	55.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.5	310 of 566	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.4	265 of 562	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.9	130 of 564	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.3	135 of 553	75.6%	★★★★☆
2022	76.6	71 of 541	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	70.3	89 of 522	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	73.2	81 of 493	83.6%	★★★★☆
2018	81.6	44 of 472	90.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.9	409 of 725	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.5	401 of 729	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.2	242 of 743	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.9	233 of 735	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.8	176 of 689	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	63.6	171 of 633	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	80.4	64 of 639	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	72.7	108 of 604	82.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	388 of 736	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.1	408 of 733	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.4	298 of 751	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	352 of 747	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.1	319 of 748	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.7	335 of 711	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.0	215 of 697	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.5	238 of 665	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	69.8	1 of 6	83.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	189 of 333	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.4	183 of 328	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.2	107 of 306	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.2	47 of 248	81.0%	★★★★☆
2019	30.0	190 of 237	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.6	179 of 221	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.4	459 of 500	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	47.3	173 of 478	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.8	145 of 473	69.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.8	320 of 644	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	259 of 649	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	224 of 652	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.5	261 of 656	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.9	207 of 658	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.6	190 of 632	69.9%	★★★★☆
2019	78.2	116 of 624	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	72.9	139 of 596	76.7%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2026)92nd percentile+54 vs school

Migrant (2019)83rd percentile+12 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)61st percentile+22 vs school

Disabled (2022)51st percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)50th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2026)47th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2026)45th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)44th percentile+5 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)43rd percentile+5 vs school

African American (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)28th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2026)8th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science60%-9 vs state

Mathematics53%-3 vs state

Reading47%-9 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Central Middle and help other families decide.

Rate Central Middle

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Central Middle

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)				EOG Reading (2026)				EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Middle	Public	6-8	310 S Martin L King Jr Ave	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-3546	451	27	16.5	99.3%	161 (35.7%)	193 (42.8%)	64 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	40	478^th of 778 public middle schools	38.6%		42.2	457^th of 773 public middle schools	40.9%	21		50.4	63.4	45.0		39.1	52.3	47.0		59.7	$10,356	$1,869	$8,486
Clarkton School of Discovery	Public	5-8	10000 North College Street	Clarkton	28433	Bladen County	Bladen County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 647-6531	147	12	12.2	98.0%	46 (31.3%)	73 (49.7%)	14 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (7.5%)	37.9	499^th of 778 public middle schools	35.9%		46.6	422^nd of 773 public middle schools	45.4%	77	65.2	73.1	53.6	42.3	47.8	38.5	32.1	46.2	65.2	65.4	$10,569	$1,659	$8,910
Bladenboro Middle	Public	5-8	910 South Main Street	Bladenboro	28320	Bladen County	Bladen County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 863-3232	254	14	18.6	98.8%	121 (47.6%)	56 (22.0%)	43 (16.9%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (11.0%)	12.2	701^st of 778 public middle schools	9.9%		18.1	657^th of 773 public middle schools	15.0%	44	40.0	26.2	33.3	7.7	41.5	40.0	43.5	29.2	66.2	46.2	$9,981	$1,030	$8,951
Nakina Middle	Public	5-8	9822 Seven Creeks Hwy	Nakina	28455	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-8301	194	12	16.3	97.4%	117 (60.3%)	15 (7.7%)	54 (27.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	58.3	318^th of 778 public middle schools	59.1%		54.3	336^th of 773 public middle schools	56.5%	18	21.6	50.0	50.0	35.7	40.5	53.2	78.0	97.6	40.5	83.3	$9,493	$1,505	$7,989
Orrum Middle	Public	5-8	1684 South Creek Road	Orrum	28369	Robeson County	Public Schools of Robeson County	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 628-8408	294	19	15.3	99.0%	82 (27.9%)	91 (31.0%)	22 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (17.0%)	1 (0.3%)	48 (16.3%)	8.2	734^th of 778 public middle schools	5.7%		7.1	734^th of 773 public middle schools	5.0%		31.6	42.4	29.2	16.3	27.6	28.8	34.7	25.0	42.1	32.5	$10,974	$1,727	$9,246

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Middle

Is Central Middle a good school?

Central Middle ranks 478^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Middle in?

Whiteville City Schools

How many students attend Central Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 451 students attended Central Middle.

What high school do graduates of Central Middle attend?

Students who attend Central Middle usually go on to attend Whiteville High

What is the racial makeup of Central Middle?

Students at Central Middle are 43% African American, 36% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

Rate Central Middle!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina Middle School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Whiteville, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Central Middle!

Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesNewSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.