Summary:
Zip code 27284, which covers the Kernersville area of North Carolina, is home to three public middle schools — East Forsyth Middle School, Kernersville Middle, and Southeast Middle — all serving grades 6 through 8 within the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district. All three schools serve highly economically disadvantaged populations, with free/reduced lunch rates of roughly 99%, yet their academic outcomes differ dramatically.
Kernersville Middle is the clear academic standout, ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide with a 3-star rating and exceeding district averages in every tested subject. East Forsyth Middle School lags significantly, ranking in the 8th percentile with 0 stars. Southeast Middle falls in between, ranking in the 13th percentile with 1 star. Chronic absenteeism closely tracks these results: East Forsyth Middle School has the highest rate at 44.5%, Southeast Middle sits in the middle at 38.4%, and Kernersville Middle has the lowest at 21.3%.
Per-student spending does not predict success here. East Forsyth Middle School spends the most at $9,957 per student but posts the weakest scores, while Southeast Middle spends the least at $7,738 and outperforms East Forsyth Middle School in nearly every subject. Math proficiency drops sharply from 6th to 8th grade at all three schools, while 8th grade science is a relative strength — even East Forsyth Middle School reaches 55.4% proficiency. Encouragingly, both East Forsyth Middle School and Southeast Middle improved their overall proficiency averages from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. Kernersville Middle remains the top performer but saw a notable decline in 8th grade math, dropping from 57.7% to 43.9% proficiency.
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