Summary:
The 27534 ZIP code in Goldsboro, North Carolina contains 11 public schools — five elementary schools, two middle schools, and four high schools (including a grades 6–12 academy and a small developmental school) — serving about 4,904 students. Nearly all belong to Wayne County Public Schools, a 3-star district ranked 110th of 246 in the state, while Wayne STEM Academy sits in its own separate, 1-star district. Poverty is widespread: ten of the eleven schools report free/reduced-lunch eligibility above 92 percent, and the median is roughly 97.5 percent.
High poverty does not guarantee low performance. Wayne Early / Middle College High is the clear standout, ranked 21st of 662 high schools statewide (97th percentile, 5 stars) with 100 percent proficiency in English II and Math III, despite 98.7 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Meadow Lane Elementary leads the elementary schools at the 72nd percentile, beating state averages in 3rd grade math and 4th grade reading. Eastern Wayne High is the most improved school, jumping from the 21st to 64th percentile in two years and now exceeding state averages in Biology, Math I, and Math III. Greenwood Middle is the stronger middle school, outscoring Eastern Wayne Middle in most subjects with lower chronic absenteeism (28.4 percent versus 44.8 percent).
At the other extreme, Wayne Middle / High Academy ranks in the 4th percentile of high schools, with 74.4 percent chronic absenteeism and EOC proficiency below 21 percent in every subject. Several elementary schools lose momentum after strong early grades: Eastern Wayne Elementary drops from 77.9 percent proficiency in 3rd grade math to 43.0 percent in 5th grade, and Tommy's Road Elementary follows a similar pattern. Finally, Wayne STEM Academy — despite having the lowest poverty rate and best attendance in the area — ranks only in the 23rd percentile, a reminder that economic disadvantage alone does not determine school outcomes.
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