Summary:
ZIP code 27863, which includes the Pikeville area of North Carolina, is served by a single public high school: Charles B Aycock High, a grades 9–12 campus within Wayne County Public Schools. With about 1,138 students, this is a mid-sized school operating in a high-poverty context, as nearly all students (98.68%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Charles B Aycock High stands out most for its exceptional mathematics performance. In 2025–2026, Math I proficiency reached 73.0% versus 42.1% statewide, and Math III hit 78.7% compared to 68.9% statewide—gaps of roughly 31 and 10 points, respectively. The school also posts a graduation rate of 89.1%, outpacing both its district (81.3%) and essentially matching the state (88.8%). Its overall state ranking has improved steadily from the 50th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 65th percentile in 2025–2026, indicating meaningful upward momentum. Biology proficiency also improved dramatically, jumping from 43.6% to 65.6% in one year, which now places the school ahead of both district and state averages.
However, there are areas for growth. English II proficiency lags the state by about three points each year, and chronic absenteeism sits at 28.2%—better than the district’s 31.6% but worse than the state’s 24.2%. The student-teacher ratio is relatively high at 26.5:1, and per-student spending data are dated. Despite these challenges, the school’s ability to deliver strong math outcomes and above-average graduation rates while serving a student body with near-universal economic disadvantage is a compelling positive finding for families considering this area.
Thank you for your feedback!