Summary:
Zip code 28301 in Fayetteville, NC is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8, both part of Cumberland County Schools and both serving student bodies with roughly 96-97% economic disadvantage. Despite this similarity, Luther Nick Jeralds Middle and Reid Ross Classical Middle have dramatically different academic and attendance profiles.
Reid Ross Classical is the clear standout. It ranked in the 71st percentile statewide in 2025-26 and earned 4 stars, while Luther Nick Jeralds ranked in the 21st percentile and earned 1 star. In 2025-26, Reid Ross met or exceeded state averages on 6 of 7 EOG tests, including a striking 75% proficiency in 7th-grade math versus the district’s 47.5% and the state’s 56.2%. Luther Nick Jeralds, meanwhile, was below both district and state averages in every subject. The gap is largest in math: average proficiency across grades 6-8 is 61.7% at Reid Ross versus 35.9% at Luther Nick Jeralds, a 25.8-point difference.
Attendance is the starkest separator. Luther Nick Jeralds has a 58.3% chronic absenteeism rate—more than double the state average and nearly three times Reid Ross’s rate of 21.6%, which is actually better than the state average. Interestingly, Luther Nick Jeralds spends more per student ($10,234 vs. $5,025) but has a less favorable student-teacher ratio (18.6 vs. 14.9). Luther Nick Jeralds has improved over the past year in many subjects, but its scores remain low. Parents should note that Reid Ross Classical is a high-poverty school beating the odds, while Luther Nick Jeralds faces severe attendance challenges that need to be addressed.
Thank you for your feedback!