Below Average
#2277 of 2,648 schools in NC
South Stanly Middle
Middle School · Stanly County Schools · Norwood, NC
A Stanly County Schools middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
12492 Cottonville Road, Norwood, NC 28128
- Math 46% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 52% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Stanly Middle score 49% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 17 points since 2020, reaching 49% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 49% (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
63%
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 South Stanly Middle 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,941
Median home value
$179,700
Median rent
$828/mo
College educated
22.3%
Homeownership
69.7%
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28128; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tillery Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 4.8private | K–9 | 2.3 mi | 41 | Compare → |
| Albemarle MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 6–8 | Not available | 380 | Compare → |
| North Stanly MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | 6–8 | Not available | 457 | Compare → |
| Stanly County Virtual EducationEnrollment path unverified | 2.8 | 2–12 | Not available | 99 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Stanly County Schools
- Schools in district
- 23
- Rank in district
- #18 of 22
- District spending per student
- $10,914NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Stanly Middle is listed in Stanly County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Stanly Middle
South Stanly Middle is a public middle school in Norwood, NC, part of Stanly County Schools, serving approximately 362 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,277 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Stanly Middle
What grades does South Stanly Middle serve?
South Stanly Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend South Stanly Middle?
South Stanly Middle has an enrollment of approximately 362 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Stanly Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at South Stanly Middle is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Stanly Middle rank in NC?
South Stanly Middle ranks #2,277 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is South Stanly Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
South Stanly Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 South Stanly Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Stanly Middle has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is South Stanly Middle a charter school?
No, South Stanly Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Stanly Middle a Title I school?
No, South Stanly Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Stanly Middle?
63.0% of students at South Stanly 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 362
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Stanly County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.8%
- Phone
- (704) 961-5700
- Area population (ZIP 28128)
- 7,610
- Area average commute
- 29.2 min
- Area median age
- 41.4
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 28128; 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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