Summary:
ZIP code 28320 is served by a single middle school, Bladenboro Middle, which enrolls 254 students in grades 5 through 8 within Bladen County Schools.
Because this is the only middle school in the area, the most meaningful comparisons are against the district and state. The school serves an intensely economically disadvantaged population, with 98.82% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.4%, well above the state's 24.2%. Academically, reading is the relative strength: proficiency in grades 5, 6, and 7 is above the district average, led by 7th grade at 43.5%. Science is also a bright spot, particularly 5th grade, where 66.2% of students are proficient, nearly matching the state average. Math, however, is a serious concern across all grades. The most alarming figure is 8th grade math, where just 7.7% of students are proficient compared to 53.0% statewide. Even the school's simple average math proficiency of 26.8% sits far below the district's 34.7% and the state's 57.8%.
Trend data shows reason for both hope and caution. The school improved slightly overall, from roughly 35.4% proficient in 2024–2025 to 37.4% in 2025–2026, with strong gains in 5th-grade math and 7th-grade reading. However, it improved more slowly than the district and state, causing its statewide rank to slide from the 24th to the 10th percentile. The 8th-grade year appears to be a critical transition point where students lose ground, as the same cohort saw math proficiency fall from 19.4% to 7.7% upon entering 8th grade. For parents, the key takeaway is that reading and early science instruction show real promise, while math—especially in 8th grade—demands urgent attention and support.
Thank you for your feedback!