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Needs Improvement

#2407 of 2,648 schools in NC

James Kenan High

High School · Duplin County Schools · Warsaw, NC

A Duplin County Schools high school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1241 NC 24 & 50, Warsaw, NC 28398

  • Math 27% vs NC 56% (2025)
  • Reading 32% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • 77.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.8Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.89 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.8Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-28.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.5 pts
Overall Proficiency30% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-16.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile10th
College Readiness3.7Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate77%
AP Participation2.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.1Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.2:1
District spending per student$11,214
Chronic Absenteeism28.5%

Students at James Kenan High score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency27%(2025 NC)
School
State
56%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency32%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 20 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 30% recently.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
57%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
52%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
12%
ELA
37%
2013
Math
12%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
22%
2017
Math
3%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2025
Math
27%
ELA
32%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

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

Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

99.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where James Kenan High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 12Car-Dependent
  • Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,397/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Warsaw), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$45,167

Median home value

$86,000

Median rent

$833/mo

College educated

12.8%

Homeownership

55.1%

Poverty rate

17.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28398; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Athletics5sports offered
3 boys'·2 girls'·13 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses3of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
East Duplin HighEnrollment path unverified6.39–12Not available870Compare →
North Duplin JR SR HighEnrollment path unverified6.47–12Not available630Compare →
Wallace-rose Hill HighEnrollment path unverified3.49–12Not available757Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Duplin County Schools

Schools in district
13
Rank in district
#10 of 13
District spending per student
$11,214NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
27.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

James Kenan High is listed in Duplin County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About James Kenan High

James Kenan High is a public high school in Warsaw, NC, part of Duplin County Schools, serving approximately 775 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,407 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about James Kenan High

What grades does James Kenan High serve?

James Kenan High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend James Kenan High?

James Kenan High has an enrollment of approximately 775 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at James Kenan High?

The student-teacher ratio at James Kenan High is 17.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does James Kenan High rank in NC?

James Kenan High ranks #2,407 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is James Kenan High's MySchoolScout rating?

James Kenan High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 James Kenan High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, James Kenan High has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is James Kenan High a charter school?

No, James Kenan High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is James Kenan High a Title I school?

No, James Kenan High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James Kenan High?

99.6% of students at James Kenan High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
775
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Duplin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.5%
4-Year Graduation
77.0%
Area population (ZIP 28398)
6,084
Area average commute
28.5 min
Area median age
38.1
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28398; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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