Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 27330

Zip code 27330 (Sanford, NC) is served by two public middle schools, East Lee Middle and West Lee Middle, which enroll roughly 520 students each in grades 6–8 as part of Lee County Schools. Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with free/reduced lunch rates above 96%, and both have favorable student-to-teacher ratios: 15.4 at East Lee Middle and 13.7 at West Lee Middle. Spending per student was roughly $8,000–$8,300 in the most recent reported data (2018–2019) and should be viewed cautiously.

In the latest 2025–2026 ranking, West Lee Middle is the stronger overall school, placing 544th out of 778 North Carolina middle schools (30th percentile) versus East Lee Middle's 565th place (27th percentile). West Lee Middle has also shown a clearer upward arc, rising from the 12th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 30th percentile today, while East Lee Middle's path has been less consistent. West Lee Middle posts better reading and science averages, including an 8th grade science proficiency rate of 65.1% that nearly matches the state's 68.6%. However, East Lee Middle is the mathematics standout: its overall math average of 44.3% tops West Lee Middle's 42.5%, and its 8th grade math rate of 46.1% far exceeds West Lee Middle's 32.7%. Both schools still trail district and state averages in most subjects.

The most striking development is East Lee Middle's year-over-year jump in 8th grade, with math leaping 21 points to 46.1% and science rising 21.8 points to 58.4% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. In the same period, West Lee Middle's 8th grade math fell from 38.1% to 32.7%, well below the state's 53.0%. Chronic absenteeism is a major challenge at both schools, at 27.1% for East Lee Middle and 25.3% for West Lee Middle, exceeding the district rate of 21.4%. In these high-poverty schools, where nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, attendance and academics are closely tied. Overall, West Lee Middle offers the stronger all-around performance, while East Lee Middle's math results and dramatic improvement make both schools worth a closer look.