Summary:
Zip code 28459 contains only one school, Shallotte Middle, which serves 627 students in grades 6–8 in Shallotte, NC, as part of Brunswick County Schools. With a student–teacher ratio of 16.4 and a free/reduced lunch rate of 99.52%, the school serves an almost universally economically disadvantaged population. It has earned 3 stars from the state for three consecutive years, improving from the 60th percentile of North Carolina middle schools in 2023–2024 to the 67th percentile in 2025–2026, putting it solidly in the top third of schools statewide.
Academically, Shallotte Middle outperforms both the district and state in nearly every subject and grade. In the most recent test results, average math proficiency was 61.7% and average reading proficiency was 61.0%. The strongest results came in 8th-grade math, where 64.1% of students were proficient compared to 53.0% statewide, and 8th-grade science, where 71.8% of students were proficient versus the state's 68.6%. Reading proficiency was particularly strong in 7th and 8th grades, exceeding state averages by roughly 8–9 percentage points, while 6th-grade reading was the only area that fell slightly below the state average (53.9% vs. 54.8%). These results are especially notable given the school's high poverty rate.
The most significant area of concern is chronic absenteeism. About 29.9% of students are chronically absent—roughly 3 in 10—which is 5.4 percentage points higher than both the district and state averages. Still, Shallotte Middle's consistent academic record, strong state ranking, and excellent math and science outcomes make it a dependable school for families in zip code 28459. Since it is the only school in the zip code, students living here attend Shallotte Middle for their middle-level education, and the school delivers results that would be considered strong in any community, let alone one with such high economic need.
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