Duplin County Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Duplin County Schools

Duplin County Schools serves a geographically dispersed, rural county in eastern North Carolina through a network of elementary, middle, high, and early college schools. The district is meaningful mainly to residents of the towns it covers—places like Warsaw, Wallace, Rose Hill, Kenansville, Mount Olive, and Beulaville—each a small settlement where the school often anchors community life.

The student body is notably diverse, with Hispanic students making up nearly half the enrollment and Black students comprising just over one-fifth. White students and other groups split the remainder. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch rates or special education enrollment counts, so the full economic picture is incomplete; however, regional housing values are modest, suggesting a working-class and agricultural-based economy. The median home value across the county's residential zips clusters around the lower end of state benchmarks, with affordability measured as a price-to-income ratio that sits below the national level.

State test results from the most recent year show proficiency rates that run below the middle tier of North Carolina standards. In math, just over two-fifths of students in grades three through eight met proficiency on the state's End-of-Grade assessment. In English language arts, the proficiency rate fell to just over one-third. Science proficiency, measured only for select grades, was roughly in line with math. These are not strong results by state measure, and a parent considering the district should look closely at how the school serving their child addresses foundational skill gaps. The state testing data does not provide trend information across multiple years, so it is unclear whether these are stable, improving, or declining results.

The district's recent standing has shifted meaningfully. Duplin County Schools exited North Carolina's "low-performing district" designation based on accountability data from two school years ago, with gains reported in high school testing, course rigor, and graduation rate. The district also earned Cognia STEM Certification for its districtwide STEAMA model, a designation held by no other school system in North Carolina. This certification reflects a hands-on, project-based pedagogical commitment that distinguishes the district from many neighbors and signals a deliberate move toward career and technical pathways. Students can pursue dual-credit coursework through an on-campus early college high school, widening access to postsecondary credit and work-relevant skills without leaving the county.

The district operates a mixed portfolio of schools: five elementary schools, one junior-senior high (combining grades seven through twelve), two standalone high schools, and the early college option. This structure means some students experience K–6 or K–5 elementary programs before transitioning to larger middle and high schools, while others in smaller attendance zones move to combined buildings earlier. Parents should consider school size and transition points relevant to their child's learning style.

Property tax funding, which underwrites the schools, faces new dynamics. Duplin County shifted to more frequent property revaluation—every four years instead of the state-mandated eight—with the most recent reassessment effective at the start of 2025. This means homeowners will see tax bill adjustments more often, a factor worth understanding for families considering relocating to the county.

State graduation rate data was not available for this district, so the four-year completion rate cannot be assessed from this profile. A parent should request current graduation outcomes directly from the district office. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch counts and special education enrollment also were not reported, leaving a gap in understanding the share of students in poverty and those with documented disabilities; families may want to ask the district for those figures when evaluating support services.

The district's reported move out of low-performing status and its STEM certification suggest organizational momentum and a clarifying identity around applied learning. For families drawn to rural or small-town schooling with vocational and early college exposure, the district merits serious conversation. For those prioritizing near-term state test gains or a wide menu of advanced courses, results to date suggest asking harder questions about curriculum design and instructional intensity.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,835

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 47%

Black 21%

White 29%

Asian 0%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

33%

41%

Gr 4

35%

47%

Gr 5

28%

47%

Gr 6

34%

49%

Gr 7

25%

47%

Gr 8

32%

54%

Gr 38

31%

48%

Math

Gr 3

54%

63%

Gr 4

33%

49%

Gr 5

28%

56%

Gr 6

38%

56%

Gr 7

29%

52%

Gr 8

23%

44%

Gr 38

34%

53%

Science

Gr 5

29%

53%

Gr 8

37%

59%

Gr 38

33%

57%

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

B F Grady Elementary

Beulaville Elementary

East Duplin High

James Kenan High

Kenansville Elementary

North Duplin Jr Sr High

North Duplin Elementary

Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary

Wallace Elementary

Wallace-Rose Hill High

Warsaw Elementary

Chinquapin Elementary

Duplin Early College High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

41%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

37%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

41%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$177,722

Year-over-year change+3.1%

Range across 18 ZIP codes$127K to $276K

vs. state typical0.53x

vs. national typical0.48x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (18 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
28466	Wallace	$216K	+4.0%	13.8%
28398	Warsaw	$152K	+2.1%	11.6%
28365	Mount Olive	$127K	-0.1%	11.5%
28518	Beulaville	$225K	+2.3%	10.4%
28458	Rose Hill	$156K	+4.2%	9.7%
28349	Kenansville	$204K	+1.5%	8.1%
28453	Magnolia	$142K	+2.9%	7.8%
28572	Pink Hill	$164K	+7.5%	7.1%
28521	Chinquapin	$214K	+3.4%	4.9%
28341	Faison	$140K	+5.2%	4.7%

Showing top 10 of 18 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,565/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
28574	Richlands	$1,565	—	0.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$897/mo

Home price / national median income2.1x

Annual rent / national median income22.4%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$669/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$337,273 (-0.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.