Very Good
#669 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 25% in state
Polk County Middle School
Middle School · Polk County Schools · Mill Spring, NC
A middle school in Mill Spring, NC where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
321 Wolverine Trail, Mill Spring, NC 28756
- Math 53% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 63% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Polk County Middle School score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 5 points since 2020, reaching 58% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (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 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.4%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Polk County Middle School 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 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 17Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated823/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$54,112
Median home value
$275,000
Median rent
$662/mo
College educated
18.9%
Homeownership
79.7%
Poverty rate
16.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28756; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Polk County Schools
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #5 of 7
- District spending per student
- $15,041NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Polk County Middle School is listed in Polk County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Polk County Middle School
Polk County Middle School is a public middle school in Mill Spring, NC, part of Polk County Schools, serving approximately 471 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #669 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Polk County Middle School
What grades does Polk County Middle School serve?
Polk County Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Polk County Middle School?
Polk County Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 471 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk County Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk County Middle School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polk County Middle School rank in NC?
Polk County Middle School ranks #669 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Polk County Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Polk County Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Polk County Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Polk County Middle School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Polk County Middle School a charter school?
No, Polk County Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Polk County Middle School a Title I school?
No, Polk County Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polk County Middle School?
99.4% of students at Polk County Middle School 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 471
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.0%
- Phone
- (828) 894-2215
- Area population (ZIP 28756)
- 4,468
- Area average commute
- 35.1 min
- Area median age
- 46
Official sources & links
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 28756; 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
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