Best Public Schools in Zip Code 27022

Schools in zip code 27022 (Lawsonville, North Carolina) include just two public schools in Stokes County Schools: Piney Grove Middle School serving grades 6–8 with about 189 students, and Stokes County Academy serving grades 6–12 with only about 59 students. Both schools serve very high-poverty populations, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, but they sit at opposite ends of the performance spectrum.

Piney Grove Middle is the clear standout. Despite having a 98.4% free or reduced-price lunch rate, it has ranked in the top half of North Carolina middle schools, and in the 2024–2025 school year it outperformed both the district and state in nearly every subject. In 2025–2026, Piney Grove’s reading proficiency was above the district and state averages, and its 8th grade science proficiency reached 75%, also above state averages. Chronic absenteeism is only 15.8%, well below the state’s 24.2%. By contrast, Stokes County Academy is among the lowest-performing high schools in the state, ranking in the 3rd percentile in 2025–2026. Its proficiency rates are typically 30 to 45 percentage points below state averages, its graduation rate is just 45.7% compared to roughly 89% for the district and state, and 48.1% of its students are chronically absent—double the state average.

Stokes County Academy’s grade span, very small enrollment, high per-student spending, and low student-teacher ratio suggest it serves as an alternative or intervention-focused setting rather than a traditional high school, even though it is officially labeled a high school. While it spends about $4,700 more per student than Piney Grove, that extra investment has not translated into stronger outcomes. For parents, the key takeaway is that Piney Grove Middle is a stable, high-poverty school performing reasonably well, while Stokes County Academy is facing serious challenges with student engagement, attendance, and academic achievement—a sharp contrast within the same rural district.