Summary:
The city of Orrum, North Carolina is home to a single public middle school, Orrum Middle, which serves grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 297 students. Orrum Middle has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup that includes 29.63% White, 31.99% African American, 7.74% Hispanic, 15.49% Native American, and 15.15% two or more races. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by proficiency rates on end-of-grade (EOG) tests, is consistently below the district and state averages, with the school ranking in the bottom quartile of North Carolina middle schools.
Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $10,974, which is above the state average, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.7, Orrum Middle continues to face significant academic challenges. The school's proficiency rates in mathematics range from 17.7% (7th grade) to 29.3% (5th grade), compared to the state averages of 50.4% to 58.1%. Similarly, the school's reading proficiency rates, ranging from 21.2% (6th grade) to 27.4% (7th grade), are well below the state averages of 48.4% to 50.3%. This persistent underperformance suggests that the school may be facing systemic issues that go beyond just funding and resources.
The high percentage of economically disadvantaged students at Orrum Middle, with 98.99% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, highlights the need for a comprehensive, context-driven approach to address the root causes of the school's underperformance. This may involve implementing culturally responsive teaching practices, strengthening support systems for students, and addressing the broader socioeconomic challenges faced by the community served by Public Schools of Robeson County.
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