Public Schools of Robeson County, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Public Schools of Robeson County

Public Schools of Robeson County is a mid-sized district covering Robeson County in southeastern North Carolina, serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade thirteen across multiple towns including Lumberton, Fairmont, Red Springs, Saint Pauls, Pembroke, and smaller municipalities. The district operates more than thirty schools, with enrollment distributed across elementary, middle, and high schools, plus a dedicated career and technical education center and an early college pathway.

The district's student body reflects the county's demographic composition. American Indian/Alaska Native students comprise a substantial share of enrollment, followed by Black, Hispanic, and white students in descending order, with smaller numbers of Asian students and those identifying as two or more races. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available in the district's reporting, though housing costs relative to income suggest economic conditions that may affect many families in the area.

State assessment results from the most recent year show proficiency rates that fall below the midline. In English language arts, less than a third of tested students in grades three through eight met proficiency. Math results are slightly higher, with about a third meeting proficiency. Science proficiency, measured on a newly revised assessment, stands at roughly forty percent. These results reflect ongoing academic challenges the district is working to address.

Robeson County stands in the bottom quartile among its county's districts on chronic absenteeism, a significant headwind for learning. The district spends at or above the upper range of per-pupil spending within the county, but this reflects in part the constraints of its funding base; publicly reported sources note that Robeson ranks lowest in North Carolina for local per-student spending and carries a limited tax base. In 2025, the district faced a substantial setback when the U.S. Department of Education canceled pandemic-era federal funding previously earmarked for building upgrades, including HVAC replacement, classroom additions, and window replacement at several schools. The district redirected local budget dollars to keep contracted work in progress, leaving other facility needs unmet.

The district is pursuing instructional change at the elementary level. It has adopted structured literacy practices aligned with North Carolina's Read to Achieve framework, using EL Education curriculum for reading in grades K through five, Eureka Math Squared for mathematics, and LETRS training for teachers. This represents a deliberate pedagogical shift intended to strengthen early reading outcomes.

A major new resource opened in August 2025: the Robeson Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) in Pembroke, funded through a combination of state, county, and district sources. This facility replaces the older career center and introduces programs in drone technology, culinary arts, mechatronics, welding, automotive technology, EMT training, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and electrical work. The building also houses a new planetarium and science center, the first major new school facility built in the district in more than two decades. For families considering the district, the CTEC represents a meaningful investment in career and technical pathways and county-wide program access.

Housing in the county is affordable relative to national benchmarks. Median home values vary across the district's zip codes, generally clustering in the lower-to-mid range, with rental options available at modest monthly cost. The affordability profile reflects a community where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income and mortgage payments remain manageable, though local household income remains below state and national medians.

Graduation rate data was not available for the district. Detailed program offerings at the school level, staffing details, and attendance metrics were not provided in the accessible reporting. A parent considering this district would benefit from visiting individual school websites and contacting the district directly about course breadth, special education services, English learner support, and the specific academic and behavioral climate at schools in their attendance zone.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

20,983

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 22%

Black 23%

White 10%

Asian 1%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 38%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

31%

37%

Gr 4

36%

45%

Gr 5

26%

43%

Gr 6

26%

40%

Gr 7

24%

39%

Gr 8

28%

42%

Gr 38

28%

41%

Math

Gr 3

54%

61%

Gr 4

35%

51%

Gr 5

31%

45%

Gr 6

30%

49%

Gr 7

25%

41%

Gr 8

21%

39%

Gr 38

33%

48%

Science

Gr 5

36%

53%

Gr 8

38%

50%

Gr 38

37%

51%

Schools in this District

37 schools are officially reported under this district.

Deep Branch Elementary

Fairgrove Elementary School

Littlefield Middle

Long Branch Elementary

Piney Grove Elementary

Prospect Elementary

Rex-Rennert Elementary

Union Chapel Elementary

Union Elementary

Robeson Co Career Ctr

Lumberton Senior High

Rowland Norment Elementary

Saint Pauls Elementary

Saint Pauls High

Saint Pauls Middle

Tanglewood Elementary

W H Knuckles

PSRC Early College at RCC

Southside Ashpole Elementary

South Robeson Middle School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

37%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

32%

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$128,557

Year-over-year change-0.0%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$93K to $262K

vs. state typical0.38x

vs. national typical0.35x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
28358	Lumberton	$139K	+0.9%	20.8%
28340		$108K	+1.0%	13.0%
28364	Maxton	$102K	+0.3%	13.0%
28383	Elrod	$100K	-4.3%	11.1%
28384	Saint Pauls	$138K	-2.0%	9.0%
28369	Proctorville	$111K	+6.1%	7.9%
28360	Lumberton	$179K	+0.3%	7.6%
28377	Red Springs	$93K	-4.0%	5.2%
28372	Pembroke	$143K	-0.7%	4.7%
28371	Parkton	$262K	+1.0%	2.8%
28386		$115K	+2.1%	2.7%
28357	Lumber Bridge	$203K	-3.4%	2.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,171/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
28358	Lumberton	$1,171	—	20.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$649/mo

Home price / national median income1.5x

Annual rent / national median income16.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$522/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.