Summary:
In zip code 28090, there are two public schools serving grades 6-12 in Lawndale, NC: Burns High (grades 9-12) and Burns Middle (grades 6-8), both part of Cleveland County Schools, with no elementary schools in this immediate area despite nearly all students (99.5%) coming from low-income households.
Both schools earn 3-star ratings and perform near the 62nd-64th percentile statewide, which is a bright spot given the extreme poverty levels. Burns High is the standout, dramatically improving its state rank from the 39th to 64th percentile in one year, with a graduation rate (87.9%) above the district rate, and exceptional End-of-Course results in Biology (91.1%), Math III (75.7%), and Math I (58.3%)—all above state averages, though English II remains a slight weak spot. Burns Middle is more stable but mixed: it shines in 6th-grade math (73.4%) and 8th-grade science (75.4%), yet trails in 8th-grade math (46.3%, below the state's 53.0%) and shows a concerning 29.1% chronic absenteeism rate, about 5 points above the state average and higher than Burns High's 23.5%.
The most striking trend is the massive science gains at both schools over the past year, with Burns High's Biology jumping 50 points and Burns Middle's 8th-grade science rising 27 points, suggesting a successful instructional push across the feeder pattern. However, literacy is the consistent challenge, as reading proficiency at both schools hovers near or below state averages, especially in middle school. Ultimately, families here get strong math and science education, but literacy support and attendance (especially at Burns Middle) are areas to watch, making these solid, improving schools that outperform expectations given their high poverty profile.
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