Schools in Zip Code 27866

ZIP code 27866 contains one school, W A Pattillo Middle, a middle school serving grades 6–8 in Tarboro, NC, within Edgecombe County Public Schools, a low-ranked district. W A Pattillo Middle enrolls 289 students and faces severe economic disadvantage, with 98.96% of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch, alongside a 44% chronic absenteeism rate that far exceeds the state average of 24.2%.

The school has shown a modest upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 5th percentile in 2023–24 to the 13th percentile in 2024–25 before settling at the 10th percentile in 2025–26, with a current one-star rating. Proficiency levels remain far below state averages; the school's average EOG proficiency was roughly 34% in 2025–26 versus 58% statewide. However, Pattillo is sometimes competitive with its district, and it posted notable bright spots in 6th-grade math (48.1% proficient versus 36.2% in the district) and 8th-grade math (37.9% versus 29.4%). Reading proficiency is a serious concern, particularly in 7th grade where only 13.5% were proficient in 2024–25.

For parents, the clearest pattern is inconsistency across grade levels and subjects, suggesting specific cohorts or interventions may be driving swings rather than schoolwide stability. The student–teacher ratio of 14.3 is relatively favorable, and spending per student is around $11,830, but nearly half of all students are chronically absent, which likely undermines instruction. With no elementary or high school reported in the same ZIP code, families should investigate feeder patterns and look beyond this single school to understand the broader educational landscape in the area.