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Average

#1298 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 49% in state

West Lincoln Middle

Middle School · Lincoln County Schools · Lincolnton, NC

A Lincoln County Schools middle school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.

260 Shoal Rd, Lincolnton, NC 28092

  • Math 50% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • Reading 53% vs NC 53% (2025)
  • 14:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.64 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.7Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-6.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+0.8 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+5.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
Resources & Environment6.7Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14:1
District spending per student$10,722
Chronic Absenteeism25.6%

Students at West Lincoln Middle score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency50%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency53%(2025 NC)
School
State
53%(2025 NC)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 26 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 52% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
85%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
74%
2012
Math
39%
ELA
38%
2013
Math
39%
ELA
45%
2014
Math
40%
ELA
46%
2015
Math
46%
ELA
48%
2016
Math
38%
ELA
46%
2017
Math
46%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
50%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
50%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
46%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
46%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
50%
ELA
53%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

99.5%

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 West Lincoln Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 12Car-Dependent
  • Bike 10Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,492/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lincolnton), 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

$62,625

Median home value

$220,700

Median rent

$937/mo

College educated

19.7%

Homeownership

70%

Poverty rate

11.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28092; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

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 in Lincoln County Schools

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
East Lincoln MiddleEnrollment path unverified6.36–8Not available748Compare →
Lincolnton MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.86–8Not available563Compare →
North Lincoln MiddleEnrollment path unverified6.86–8Not available751Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Lincoln County Schools

Schools in district
23
Rank in district
#15 of 21
District spending per student
$10,722NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

West Lincoln Middle is listed in Lincoln County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About West Lincoln Middle

West Lincoln Middle is a public middle school in Lincolnton, NC, part of Lincoln County Schools, serving approximately 546 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,298 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West Lincoln Middle

What grades does West Lincoln Middle serve?

West Lincoln Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend West Lincoln Middle?

West Lincoln Middle has an enrollment of approximately 546 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lincoln Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at West Lincoln Middle is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Lincoln Middle rank in NC?

West Lincoln Middle ranks #1,298 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is West Lincoln Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

West Lincoln Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Lincoln Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Lincoln Middle has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is West Lincoln Middle a charter school?

No, West Lincoln Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is West Lincoln Middle a Title I school?

No, West Lincoln Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Lincoln Middle?

99.5% of students at West Lincoln 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
546
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Lincoln County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.6%
Area population (ZIP 28092)
40,224
Area average commute
26.9 min
Area median age
43.3
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 28092; 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

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