Edgecombe County Public Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Edgecombe County Public Schools

Edgecombe County Public Schools operates across a range of grades from pre-kindergarten through early college high school, serving a district that recently underwent a major structural change. Effective in the 2024–25 school year, the district absorbed students and schools from the Nash County side of Rocky Mount following a state-mandated demerger that redrew district boundaries along county lines. This means families on the Edgecombe County side of Rocky Mount now attend Edgecombe schools, a permanent shift that altered the district's enrollment and configuration.

The district operates schools across multiple communities including Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and surrounding areas. Housing values across the county vary by location, ranging from lower-cost properties to higher-valued homes depending on the specific zip code and town. Affordability is moderate relative to national standards, and rental housing is accessible, though both purchase and rental costs have shifted slightly over the past year. The local economy supports modest unemployment, and median household income aligns with national patterns.

On state assessments, the district's proficiency rates across elementary and middle grades fall below the midpoint. In mathematics, proficiency stands at roughly one-third of tested students. English language arts proficiency is slightly lower. Science proficiency, measured across fewer students in these grades, runs somewhat higher but still below majority levels. These results reflect a student population that would benefit from sustained attention to core academics. The district's state testing covers only elementary through middle grades, so high school performance on standardized measures is not reported in state data.

The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and a smaller White enrollment. Demographic data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, leaving gaps in the full picture of student needs and support structures.

A defining feature of the district is its commitment to physical security infrastructure. All schools employ Evolv Express weapons detection systems at entry points, with students screening through daily. The district reports a substantial reduction in weapon-possession incidents since installation. A federal grant awarded in 2024 is funding additional security measures including upgraded cameras, shatterproof window film at building entrances, and security wands at schools without the Evolv systems. This represents a material change to the daily arrival and entry experience for every student in the district.

The district operates schools across the elementary, middle, and high school bands, including Tarboro High, North Edgecombe High, SouthWest Edgecombe High, and an early college high school option for students seeking dual-credit pathways. It also runs a specialized academy focused on health sciences. Virtual and online enrollment options exist as well.

Comparison data against other districts in Edgecombe County could not be developed, as the county contains only this one public school district. State testing trends and multi-year academic changes were not available in the data, so parents looking for year-to-year movement in proficiency would need to contact the district or review its detailed trend reports directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,299

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 59%

White 22%

Asian 0%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

22%

40%

Gr 4

33%

48%

Gr 5

26%

47%

Gr 6

27%

49%

Gr 7

27%

38%

Gr 8

33%

45%

Gr 38

28%

44%

Math

Gr 3

41%

65%

Gr 4

31%

55%

Gr 5

30%

52%

Gr 6

31%

58%

Gr 7

24%

41%

Gr 8

23%

40%

Gr 38

30%

51%

Science

Gr 5

30%

57%

Gr 8

39%

59%

Gr 38

35%

58%

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

G W Bulluck Elementary

G W Carver Elementary

Coker-Wimberly Elementary

North Edgecombe High

Phillips Middle

South Edgecombe Middle

SouthWest Edgecombe High

West Edgecombe Middle

Stocks Elementary

Princeville Elementary

Tarboro High

Edgecombe Early College High

W A Pattillo Middle

Martin Millennium Academy

Connections Virtual Academy

EDGE Academy of Health Sciences

Connections Learning Academy

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

35%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

31%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

40%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$156,974

Year-over-year change-1.2%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$107K to $236K

vs. state typical0.47x

vs. national typical0.43x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
27886	Tarboro	$150K	-3.5%	36.8%
27801	Rocky Mount	$122K	-6.2%	13.2%
27891	Whitakers	$172K	+0.1%	12.6%
27809		$222K	+0.9%	9.5%
27864	Pinetops	$150K	+4.7%	8.1%
27852	Pinetops	$153K	+2.5%	7.8%
27843		$107K	+4.0%	4.2%
27812	Bethel	$150K	+1.1%	3.1%
27829		$188K	+4.0%	1.9%
27822	Elm City	$236K	+1.1%	1.5%
27803	Rocky Mount	$209K	+0.5%	0.5%
27834	Greenville	$210K	+1.2%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,053/mo

Year-over-year change+4.9%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,017 to $1,245/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
27886	Tarboro	$1,017	—	36.8%
27801	Rocky Mount	$1,144	—	13.2%
27803	Rocky Mount	$1,196	+4.5%	0.5%
27834	Greenville	$1,245	+5.5%	0.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$792/mo

Home price / national median income1.9x

Annual rent / national median income15.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$261/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.