Best High Schools in Zip Code 28366

Zip code 28366 contains two public high schools in the Sampson County Schools district: Midway High and Hobbton High, serving grades 9 through 12 with roughly 1,193 combined students. Midway is the larger school with 726 students, while Hobbton enrolls 467. The district itself holds a 2-star rating, ranking 134th out of 246 North Carolina districts.

Midway High is the clear standout, ranking 233rd of 662 North Carolina high schools (65th percentile, 3 stars). It scores above the state average in all four End-of-Course subjects: Biology (59.5% proficient vs. 58.5% statewide), English II (69.4% vs. 64.6%), Math I (50.3% vs. 42.1%), and Math III (91.5% vs. 68.9%). Its graduation rate of 90.2% tops both district and state benchmarks, and chronic absenteeism is just 15.8% — far below the district's 25.3%. Hobbton High, by contrast, ranks 483rd (27th percentile, 1 star) and falls below district and state averages in Biology, English II, and Math I. Its graduation rate is 84.1%, roughly 5 points below district and state levels, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 26.6% exceeds both. Hobbton's ranking has also dropped sharply, falling from the 43rd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 27th percentile in 2025–2026.

The most striking insight is the consistent achievement gap: Midway outperforms Hobbton by 16 to 24 percentage points in every tested subject, despite both schools serving nearly identical high-poverty populations (98.9% and 99.36% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility, respectively). Attendance appears to be a key factor, as Hobbton's chronic absenteeism is 10.8 percentage points higher than Midway's. Notably, Hobbton spends more per pupil ($9,904 vs. $8,712) and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio, yet results are weaker. Math I proficiency is a challenge at both schools, while Math III is a relative strength — particularly at Midway, where 91.5% of students are proficient. Overall, Midway demonstrates what is possible in a high-poverty high school, while Hobbton shows a clear need for targeted support around attendance and early math proficiency.