Schools in Zip Code 27025

ZIP code 27025 in Madison, NC, is served by three public schools in Rockingham County Schools: two elementary schools (Huntsville Elementary and John W Dillard Academy) and one middle school (Western Rockingham Middle), with no high school in the immediate area. Combined enrollment is roughly 1,166 students, and all three schools serve a very high-poverty population, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility between 97% and 99%. The district itself holds a 2-star rating, ranking 171st out of 246 districts statewide.

Western Rockingham Middle stands out as the strongest academic performer. Despite near-universal poverty rates at the school, it ranks in the 43rd percentile statewide and consistently beats district averages in every middle school math and reading EOG category. Its math scores are especially close to state averages, with 6th grade at 58.1% proficient and 7th grade at 55.3%, and its 8th grade science proficiency of 61.1% tops the district by over 4 points. By comparison, John W Dillard Academy ranks lower overall (16th percentile) but has notable bright spots: it posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the ZIP code at 22.9% and a strong 5th grade science proficiency of 65.1%. Huntsville Elementary is not an absolute standout but shows real momentum, with 5th grade science jumping from 46.7% to 62.5% and 5th grade reading rising from 42.7% to 51.6% year over year.

The schools share similar structural resources, with student-teacher ratios from 14.8 to 16.0 and per-pupil spending ranging from $8,960 to $9,670 (from the 2018-19 fiscal year). Chronic absenteeism is much better than the district's 36.5% average, though only Dillard falls below the state rate of 24.2%. One important caveat is that state rankings are declining for all three schools even where test scores are rising, indicating that peer schools statewide are improving faster. Substantial year-over-year swings, such as Dillard's 4th grade math score of 31.9% or Huntsville Elementary's large 5th grade gains, likely reflect small cohorts and student mobility as much as genuine changes in performance. Families should view single-year data cautiously and consider attendance patterns, feeder-school transitions, and subject-specific strengths when comparing these schools.