Original Research by School Decision on Paul R Brown Leadership Academy
Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy is a charter school serving grades six through twelve across a multi-county region in southeastern North Carolina. The school operates in Elizabethtown in Bladen County and draws students from eight counties in that corner of the state.
The academy has recently undergone a significant turnaround. In 2022, the state charter review board seriously considered closure due to poor academic performance, failing grades, and unmet growth standards, particularly in mathematics proficiency. The school also faced leadership instability during that period. Beginning in 2025, however, the board granted the academy the longest possible charter renewal, signaling restored state confidence and providing stability through the next decade for families considering enrollment.
Enrollment has grown rapidly during the turnaround. The school has roughly doubled from its 2023 size to its current enrollment. This near-doubling has brought students together from across the regional service area and expanded the scale of available programming, though it has also created demand pressure. When applications exceed available seats in any grade, the school moves to a public lottery for admissions.
The student body is diverse. Black students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by students identifying as two or more races, a smaller portion of white students, some Hispanic students, and a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander enrollment are not represented. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and on special populations such as students with disabilities or English learners was not available, so a parent seeking that information should ask the school directly.
The academy's size is small for a two-site or multi-grade district entity, with enrollment stable across grades six through twelve, suggesting consistent recruitment or retention across the junior and senior high levels. Chronic absenteeism at the school sits in the top quartile among Bladen County's districts, meaning it is notably lower than the county median. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range for the county.
State assessment data in reading and mathematics proficiency was not available in public reporting, so the school's current academic standing relative to state benchmarks cannot be assessed from available sources. A parent evaluating this school should request current assessment results directly from administration and ask specifically about the progress made since 2022 and the academic metrics that informed the charter renewal decision. The recent turnaround story is real and documented, but understanding the present-day performance requires that direct conversation.
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