Summary:
Zip code 28525, located in the Deep Run area of North Carolina, is served by a single public high school: South Lenoir High, a grade 9-12 school within the Lenoir County Public Schools district. With 721 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1, this school serves a student body where nearly all students (99.58%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, making it one of the most economically disadvantaged schools in the region.
In terms of state accountability, South Lenoir High has earned a 2-star rating for three consecutive years, placing it in the 32nd percentile of North Carolina high schools. Its graduation rate stands at 88.0%, slightly below both the district's 90.1% and the state's 88.8%. However, the school posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 21.0%, which is better than the district's 26.5% and the state's 24.2%. On End-of-Course tests, the school outperforms its district in all four subjects but trails the state in three of them. Math III is a standout strength at 72% proficiency, exceeding both the district's 56.3% and the state's 68.9%. Biology (49.0%), English II (49.7%), and Math I (26.6%) all fall short of state averages, with Math I representing the largest gap.
The school's most encouraging trend is its year-over-year momentum across every EOC subject. Proficiency improved by 7.2 points in Biology, 1.7 in English II, 4.9 in Math I, and a notable 13.7 points in Math III from the previous year. For parents, this suggests a school that, despite its high-poverty context and modest state ranking, is demonstrating academic resilience and improvement. The strong showing in upper-level math, better-than-average attendance, and consistent gains across tested subjects indicate that while there is still work to do in Math I and English II, South Lenoir High appears to be on an upward trajectory worth watching in the years ahead.
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