Needs Improvement
#2417 of 2,648 schools in NC
West Lee Middle
Middle School · Lee County Schools · Sanford, NC
A Lee County Schools middle school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3301 Wicker St, Sanford, NC 27330
- Math 39% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 45% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at West Lee Middle score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 42% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (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
70%
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 West Lee 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 20Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average358/100K
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
$60,726
Median home value
$213,000
Median rent
$966/mo
College educated
23.1%
Homeownership
61%
Poverty rate
17.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27330; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 297 | Compare → |
| Central Carolina AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | Not rated | 6–11 | 2.1 mi | 450 | Compare → |
| Sanlee Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | 6–8 | 2.6 mi | 791 | Compare → |
| Floyd L Knight Children CenterEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | PK–12 | 2.8 mi | 115 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment 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.
Lee County Schools
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #16 of 16
- District spending per student
- $13,241NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
West Lee Middle is listed in Lee County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About West Lee Middle
West Lee Middle is a public middle school in Sanford, NC, part of Lee County Schools, serving approximately 583 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,417 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about West Lee Middle
What grades does West Lee Middle serve?
West Lee Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend West Lee Middle?
West Lee Middle has an enrollment of approximately 583 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lee Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lee Middle is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Lee Middle rank in NC?
West Lee Middle ranks #2,417 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is West Lee Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
West Lee Middle 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 West Lee Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Lee Middle has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is West Lee Middle a charter school?
No, West Lee Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Lee Middle a Title I school?
No, West Lee Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Lee Middle?
70.0% of students at West Lee 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
- 583
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Lee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.9%
- Phone
- (919) 775-7351
- Area population (ZIP 27330)
- 41,473
- Area average commute
- 24.7 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 27330; 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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