Wilson County Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Wilson County Schools

Wilson County Schools serves a mid-sized student body spanning pre-kindergarten through grade thirteen across a four-district county in eastern North Carolina. The district includes elementary, middle, and high schools located in towns such as Wilson, Elm City, Lucama, Stantonsburg, and Black Creek, alongside two specialized academies: an early college program and an applied technology center, as well as a virtual learning option. This mix of traditional and pathway schools reflects an attempt to serve varied student readiness and interests across the county.

On state testing in grades three through eight, the district's results are below the midline. In math, about three out of five students reached proficiency on the state's end-of-grade assessment. English language arts proficiency was slightly lower, with about four out of seven students meeting the standard. Science proficiency, reported for a smaller tested population, fell between the two. None of these figures reflect state or national benchmarks; they describe what the district itself reported to the state. The district does not report a four-year graduation rate in the available data, a gap worth asking the district directly about when evaluating high school pathways.

The district's student body is racially diverse. Black students make up a substantial plurality of enrollment, with Hispanic students comprising a notable share. White students form the third-largest group, and Asian students, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and American Indian or Alaska Native students together represent a small portion. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price lunch counts or rates, nor does it report special education or English learner populations in this data, so a parent seeking to understand how the district supports economically disadvantaged families, students with disabilities, or language learners should contact the district directly for those specifics.

In chronic absenteeism, Wilson County's rate sits above the midpoint compared to the other three districts in its county, suggesting the district may be grappling with attendance challenges that merit conversation with school leaders about causes and supports. The district's per-pupil current spending ranks in the upper range within the county, reflecting either higher local investment or a smaller enrollment base than some peers.

The district is navigating significant facilities upheaval. Two schools were permanently closed in 2022. Frederick Douglass Elementary has been housed in a temporary building for three school years while a new school is under construction in Elm City, with return expected for the 2027-2028 school year. This is the largest capital project funded through local taxpayer bonds, marking a long-term financial commitment by the county. Concurrently, the county completed its first property revaluation in years in 2024, and although the tax rate was nominally reduced, the higher assessed values mean homeowners are paying more in taxes each year going forward, including to service school capital obligations. A family moving into the district should factor in higher annual property tax costs.

The district operates multiple school buildings and routes, which can mean variable commute times depending on home and school location within the county's geography. Parents choosing where to live should inquire about specific attendance zones and whether the school their child would attend is operating in its permanent facility or is one of the temporarily displaced or relocated schools currently in transition.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,260

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 24%

Black 42%

White 28%

Asian 1%

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

44%

63%

Gr 4

60%

73%

Gr 5

51%

71%

Gr 6

53%

63%

Gr 7

44%

65%

Gr 8

54%

71%

Gr 38

50%

68%

Math

Gr 3

64%

79%

Gr 4

53%

71%

Gr 5

57%

80%

Gr 6

55%

73%

Gr 7

42%

65%

Gr 8

42%

60%

Gr 38

52%

71%

Science

Gr 5

52%

75%

Gr 8

47%

66%

Gr 38

49%

70%

Schools in this District

25 schools are officially reported under this district.

B O Barnes Elementary

Beddingfield High

Frederick Douglass Elementary

Lee Woodard Elementary

Lucama Elementary

Margaret Hearne Elementary

New Hope Elementary

Rock Ridge Elementary

Speight Middle

Springfield Middle

Stantonsburg Elementary

Vinson-Bynum Elementary

Wells Elementary

Charles H Darden Middle

Forest Hills Middle

Milton M Daniels Learning Center

Vick Elementary

John W Jones Elementary

Wilson Early College Academy

Wilson Academy of Applied Technology

Wilson Academy of Virtual Education

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

59%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

57%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

58%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$214,117

Year-over-year change+0.8%

Range across 15 ZIP codes$153K to $302K

vs. state typical0.63x

vs. national typical0.58x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (15 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
27893	Wilson	$173K	+0.2%	29.6%
27822	Elm City	$236K	+1.1%	17.8%
27851	Lucama	$212K	+1.3%	11.9%
27883	Stantonsburg	$186K	+1.1%	10.3%
27542	Kenly	$268K	+2.0%	6.7%
27880	Sims	$302K	+0.8%	6.7%
27896	Wilson	$279K	-0.2%	6.5%
27888	Walstonburg	$180K	+0.9%	2.6%
27829		$188K	+4.0%	2.0%
27830		$169K	-4.7%	1.7%
27852	Pinetops	$153K	+2.5%	1.1%
27803	Rocky Mount	$209K	+0.5%	1.1%
27807	Bailey	$280K	+0.6%	0.9%
27557	Middlesex	$277K	+3.7%	0.5%
27813	Wilson	$169K	+3.8%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,275/mo

Year-over-year change+1.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,188 to $1,687/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
27893	Wilson	$1,188	+1.6%	29.6%
27896	Wilson	$1,687	—	6.5%
27803	Rocky Mount	$1,196	+4.5%	1.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,080/mo

Home price / national median income2.6x

Annual rent / national median income18.3%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$194/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.