Summary:
ZIP code 27851 in Lucama, North Carolina, contains two public schools in Wilson County Schools — Lucama Elementary (PK–5) and Springfield Middle (6–8) — with no high school inside the ZIP code, meaning this dataset captures a compact and highly successful PK–8 pathway. Despite serving an overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged population, with both schools reporting roughly 99.3% free/reduced lunch eligibility, these two schools consistently post results that rank among the very best in North Carolina.
Lucama Elementary is the strongest all-around school in the area, earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and finishing 89th out of 1,492 elementary schools (94th percentile) in 2025-26. Springfield Middle is the biggest mover, rising from a 4-star school in each of the prior two years to a 5-star, 93rd-percentile finish (54th out of 778 middle schools) in the latest year. In every subject tested, both schools outperform Wilson County Schools and state averages by wide margins, often 20 percentage points or more. Lucama's overall average EOG proficiency reached 83.1% versus 79.2% at Springfield, and both improved year over year — Springfield by a striking 7.7 points. Science is a signature strength at both schools, with 8th-grade proficiency at Springfield jumping from 61% to 91.1% in a single year and 5th-grade Science at Lucama hitting 91.2%.
Chronic absenteeism is a major differentiator: Springfield's rate is just 10.7% and Lucama's is 14.4%, both far below the 22.1% district rate and 24.2% state rate. Math is the strongest subject at both schools, while reading is the relative weakness — particularly 3rd-grade reading at Lucama at 70%, though that represents a sharp recovery from 54% the prior year. Since there is no high school in ZIP 27851, these students will eventually feed into high schools outside the area, making the durability of this impressive academic corridor an important story to watch.
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