Summary:
ZIP code 28551 in North Carolina is home to a single middle school, E B Frink Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 in La Grange, NC. With an enrollment of 488 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, the school serves an exceptionally high-poverty population, with 99.39% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. Because there is only one middle school in this ZIP code, comparisons are made against the Lenoir County Public Schools district and the state of North Carolina.
E B Frink Middle is a standout within its district, outperforming Lenoir County averages in most tested subjects despite its high-poverty profile. In 2025–2026, math proficiency reached 49.7% versus the district's 40.9%, and reading proficiency reached 49.4% versus the district's 45.2%. Seventh-grade math was a particular strength at 53.1% proficiency, far above the district's 41.6%. Eighth-grade science improved dramatically from 41.7% to 59.1% year over year, though it remained slightly below the district's 61.1%. The school's state ranking sits at 488th of 778 middle schools, placing it in the 37th percentile, a recovery from the prior year's 30th percentile.
Despite these relative strengths, E B Frink Middle remains below state averages in every subject, with about half of students still not proficient in reading and math. Per-pupil spending is $8,445, and the school holds a 2-star rating on SchoolDigger. Chronic absenteeism is the most significant concern: 35.5% of students are chronically absent, well above the district's 26.5% and the state's 24.2%. Reducing absenteeism and raising absolute proficiency levels will be critical for the school to climb to a higher performance tier in North Carolina.
Thank you for your feedback!