Summary:
In zip code 27980, a single school, Chowan Middle, serves grades 6 through 8 as part of the Edenton-Chowan Schools district, with no elementary or high school present in the area. The district currently ranks 181 out of 246 statewide, placing it in the 26th percentile with a one-star rating. Chowan Middle is a high-poverty school: 99.16% of its 357 students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, and its student-teacher ratio is 12.5 to 1.
Academically, the school struggles against statewide averages. In 2025-2026, all tested subjects were below the state, with gaps ranging from 4.6 points in 7th grade math to 21.7 points in 6th grade math. The school's overall ranking has slipped over three years, from the 40th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 31st percentile in 2024-2025 and down to the 24th percentile in 2025-2026. There are a few bright spots: 7th grade math jumped 18 points to 51.6% proficiency, and 8th grade science reached 61.5% proficiency.
Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 36.7% of students chronically absent—well above the district's 28.2% and the state's 24.2%. That means roughly 130 students are missing significant school time. While the extreme poverty and attendance challenges cannot be ignored, the improvements in math and science show potential. However, with no other public schools in the zip code, families in this area will need to look outside 27980 for elementary and high school options, making Chowan Middle a key center of education for the community.
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