Summary:
Zip code 28460, in the Sneads Ferry area of North Carolina, is served by a single public middle school, Dixon Middle, which enrolls nearly 1,000 students in grades 6 through 8 under Onslow County Schools. With no elementary, high, or alternative schools in this zip code, Dixon Middle is the only school option for local families, and its performance provides the full picture of education in this area.
Dixon Middle stands out as a large school with a student-teacher ratio of 18.4 and a free/reduced lunch rate of 34.3%, indicating a moderate share of economically disadvantaged students. Chronic absenteeism affects 24.5% of students — about 1 in 4 — which is nearly identical to the state average and slightly above the district's 22.7%. Academically, the school's biggest strength is science: in the most recent 2025–2026 school year, 77.1% of 8th graders were proficient in science, far exceeding the district's 71.4% and the state's 68.6%. However, the school's overall ranking has slipped from the 65th percentile (267th of 773 schools) in 2024–2025 to the 48th percentile (401st of 778 schools) in 2025–2026, with its star rating dropping from 3 stars to 2 stars.
Reading performance has declined notably year over year. In 2024–2025, Dixon Middle beat the state average in all three reading grades, but by 2025–2026 it fell below the state average in every grade level. Math results are mixed: 7th and 8th grade math remain slightly above the district average, but 6th grade math dropped sharply from 60.2% to 47.5% proficiency, well below the state's 59.2%. This recent decline in reading and math, combined with high chronic absenteeism, suggests areas for concern. While Dixon Middle still performs slightly better than its district overall, it has moved from being a solidly above-average North Carolina middle school to one that now sits closer to the middle of the pack.
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