Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 28578

ZIP code 28578 contains one middle school, Spring Creek Middle in Seven Springs, NC, which serves grades 5 through 8 and enrolls 571 students as part of Wayne County Public Schools. What makes this school stand out is that it posts strong math and science results despite serving a student body in which 99.47% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.5 to 1 and no other middle schools in the ZIP code, the most meaningful comparison is against district and state averages.

Spring Creek Middle is above the district average in every subject and above the state average in math and science. In the most recent testing year, 68.8% of students were proficient in math compared to a 57.8% state average, and 72.5% were proficient in science versus 68.2% statewide. Reading proficiency, at 51.3%, lags the state average of 55.6%. The school has also improved its statewide ranking from the 47th percentile to the 59th percentile over the last two years, moving from 2 stars to 3 stars on SchoolDigger. The most dramatic improvement came in 8th grade science, which jumped 21.5 points to 73.9%. The strongest subject is 8th grade math at 76.1% proficiency, over 23 points above the state average.

The primary challenge is reading, which trails the state by roughly 3 to 7 points in every grade level. The 6th grade year also appears to be a difficult transition, with 6th grade math at 58.5% and 6th grade reading at 48.1%, both below state averages. These results are especially notable given that 27.5% of students are chronically absent and nearly every student is economically disadvantaged. Despite those obstacles, Spring Creek Middle is outperforming its district as a whole and is proving to be one of the stronger middle school options within Wayne County Public Schools. Parents should watch whether the school can sustain its recent science gains and close the persistent reading gap.