Richmond County Schools

The Richmond County Schools district in North Carolina encompasses 14 schools, including 7 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district faces significant challenges, with wide disparities in academic performance across its schools.

The standout school in the district is Richmond Early College High School, which ranks 26th out of 640 high schools in North Carolina and earns a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. This school has exceptional test scores, with over 90% of students proficient or better in several EOC exams. In contrast, the lowest-performing school, Ashley Chapel Educational Center, has proficiency rates as low as 6.3% on EOC exams. This stark performance gap highlights the need for targeted strategies to support underperforming schools.

The district's student population is diverse, with a mix of White, African American, and Hispanic students. However, some schools, like Washington Street Elementary and Monroe Avenue Elementary, have a higher percentage of African American students, while others, like Mineral Springs Elementary, have a larger Hispanic student population. The high free and reduced lunch rates across the district suggest a strong correlation between student socioeconomic status and academic performance, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and support, particularly in the early grades.