Cumberland County Schools

The Cumberland County Schools district in North Carolina contains 86 schools, including 51 elementary schools, 17 middle schools, and 18 high schools, serving students from diverse backgrounds. The district exhibits a wide range of academic performance, with both high-achieving standout schools and chronically low-performing institutions.

Some of the top-performing schools in the district include Jack Britt High School, Seventy-First Classical Middle School, Cumberland International Early College, Stedman Elementary, and Beaver Dam Elementary. These schools consistently rank among the top in the state, with strong test scores and high ratings. In contrast, schools like Alger B. Wilkins High School and Ramsey Street High struggle to meet state performance standards, with proficiency rates well below the district and state averages.

The district's overall performance is below average compared to other districts in North Carolina, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. There appears to be a strong correlation between poverty and academic achievement, as schools with the highest concentrations of economically disadvantaged students tend to have the lowest test scores and rankings. However, a few high-poverty schools, like Vanstory Hills Elementary and Gray's Creek Elementary, are able to achieve strong results, suggesting that with the right resources and strategies, high-poverty schools can overcome challenges and help students succeed.