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Very Good

#938 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 35% in state

West Stanly Middle School

Middle School · Stanly County Schools · Locust, NC

A Stanly County Schools middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.

339 Running Creek Church Rd, Locust, NC 28097

  • Math 65% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • Reading 64% vs NC 53% (2025)
  • 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.7Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.4% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.4% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+8.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.2 pts
Overall Proficiency65% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+1.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.1:1
District spending per student$10,914
Chronic Absenteeism24.6%

Students at West Stanly Middle School score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency65%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency64%(2025 NC)
School
State
53%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 65% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
79%
ELA
71%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
68%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
36%
ELA
43%
2013
Math
38%
ELA
48%
2014
Math
41%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
45%
ELA
48%
2016
Math
53%
ELA
56%
2017
Math
50%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
43%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
43%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
40%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
40%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
59%
2025
Math
65%
ELA
64%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (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

44.7%

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 Stanly 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 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

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

Median income

$77,600

Median home value

$281,200

Median rent

$861/mo

College educated

19.5%

Homeownership

81.7%

Poverty rate

10.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28097; 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

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Carolina Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition6.3private1–123.7 mi174Compare →
Albemarle MiddleEnrollment path unverified2.46–8Not available380Compare →
North Stanly MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.36–8Not available457Compare →
South Stanly MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.36–8Not available362Compare →

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
#7 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

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

About West Stanly Middle School

West Stanly Middle School is a public middle school in Locust, NC, part of Stanly County Schools, serving approximately 633 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #938 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West Stanly Middle School

What grades does West Stanly Middle School serve?

West Stanly Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend West Stanly Middle School?

West Stanly Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 633 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Stanly Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at West Stanly Middle School is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Stanly Middle School rank in NC?

West Stanly Middle School ranks #938 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is West Stanly Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

West Stanly Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Stanly Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Stanly Middle School has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is West Stanly Middle School a charter school?

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

Is West Stanly Middle School a Title I school?

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

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

44.7% of students at West Stanly 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
633
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Stanly County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.6%
Area population (ZIP 28097)
7,976
Area average commute
30.7 min
Area median age
37
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 28097; 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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