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Average

#1563 of 2,648 schools in NC

A L Stanback Middle

Middle School · Orange County Schools

3700 NC 86 South, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Enrollment

625

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

5.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,563 of 2,648

In Hillsborough

#9 of 12

public schools

In district

#8 of 13

Orange County Schools

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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A L Stanback Middle

5.9/10

Middle School in Hillsborough · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

New Hope Elementary

5.3/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Partnership Academy

4.5/10

2.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About A L Stanback Middle

A L Stanback Middle is a public middle school in Hillsborough, NC, part of Orange County Schools. A L Stanback Middle serves approximately 625 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. A L Stanback Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,563 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for A L Stanback Middle show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about A L Stanback Middle

Sources: School's website Wayback Machine

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

A.L. Stanback Middle School is located at 3700 NC 86 South in Hillsborough, North Carolina 2 . Dr. Jalen M. Brown serves as the principal 2 . The school's mascot is the Bulldogs, and its student athletes are referred to as Dragonflies 2 . Stacy Noren was named the A.L. Stanback Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2026-27 academic year 1 . The school serves rising 6th-grade students and hosts transition events, such as a Middle School 101 orientation held in August 2024 1 2 . Administrative changes within the Orange County Schools district include the Board of Education approving new hires and assignments for administrators in April 2026 1 . Additionally, the district's Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Julie Pack, completed the NCSSA Aspiring Superintendents Program Cohort X in 2026 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.orangecountyfirst.com
  2. web.archive.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.0
  • NC avg 5.7

What Parents Should Know

A L Stanback Middle sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.5Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.99 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.4Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.1 pts
Overall Proficiency50% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-8.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile36th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,399
Chronic Absenteeism27%

A L Stanback Middle — Students at A L Stanback Middle score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

58.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 50.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.9% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 50.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
82%
ELA
69%
2010
Math
81%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
39%
ELA
51%
2013
Math
38%
ELA
50%
2014
Math
44%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
54%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
44%
ELA
45%
2019
Math
44%
ELA
45%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
39%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
39%
2022
Math
43.7%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
51.1%
ELA
49%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.5/10.

How A L Stanback Middle Compares

See how A L Stanback Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.9/10
41th percentile in NC
Academic
5.4/10
Average
Growth
4.5/10
Below Average
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
58%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
45 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3700 NC 86 South, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering A L Stanback Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Smith Middle (rated 8.4/10, 5.8 miles away, in nearby Chapel Hill), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Orange Middle (rated 6.7/10, 4.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Hillsborough, see our Hillsborough schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.0 mi
School Distance Rating
New Hope Elementary Chapel Hill 0.5 mi 5.3
Partnership Academy Hillsborough 2.5 mi 4.5
EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL Chapel Hill 2.8 mi 7.0
River Park Elementary Hillsborough 3.6 mi 6.9
The Expedition School Hillsborough 3.5 mi 9.5
Grady Brown Elementary Hillsborough 3.2 mi 4.9
Cedar Ridge High Hillsborough 3.3 mi 7.6
CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL Durham 3.3 mi 7.7
HILLSBOROUGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hillsborough 4.2 mi 6.5
Hillsborough Elementary Hillsborough 4.1 mi 8.8
Central Elementary Hillsborough 4.2 mi 5.9
Orange Middle Hillsborough 4.4 mi 6.7
Morris Grove Elementary Chapel Hill 4.4 mi 8.9
Orange High Hillsborough 4.6 mi 7.1
Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 5.6 mi 8.2
Eno River Academy Hillsborough 5.6 mi 8.1
East Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 5.3 mi 8.7
Smith Middle Chapel Hill 5.8 mi 8.4
Seawell Elementary Chapel Hill 6.0 mi 8.0
Pathways Elementary Hillsborough 6.0 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27278 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,821

Median Home Value

$380,000

Median Rent

$1,294/mo

Population

28,546

College Educated

53.8%

Homeownership

77.3%

Avg Commute

27.2 min

Poverty Rate

7.3%

Median Age

44.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Cape Fear Middle Rocky Point, NC 5.9
Carroll Middle Raleigh, NC 5.9
Central Middle Dobson, NC 5.9
Elizabeth City Middle Elizabeth City, NC 5.9
Forbush Middle East Bend, NC 5.9
Mint Hill Middle Matthews, NC 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about A L Stanback Middle

What grades does A L Stanback Middle serve?

A L Stanback Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend A L Stanback Middle?

A L Stanback Middle has an enrollment of approximately 625 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at A L Stanback Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at A L Stanback Middle is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does A L Stanback Middle rank in NC?

A L Stanback Middle ranks #1,563 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is A L Stanback Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

A L Stanback Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at A L Stanback Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, A L Stanback Middle has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is A L Stanback Middle a charter school?

No, A L Stanback Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is A L Stanback Middle a Title I school?

No, A L Stanback Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for A L Stanback Middle?

58.4% of students at A L Stanback Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
13 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
625
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Free/Reduced Lunch
58.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.0%

District

Orange County Schools
District Enrollment
7,067
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,399
District Rank
#8 of 13

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