The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in Science. The lowest is 7% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ray Street Academy
Ray Street Academy is an alternative school serving grades six through twelve in Graham, North Carolina, as part of the Alamance-Burlington School System. It is a small school, with an enrollment that reflects its alternative-school mission: the student body is economically disadvantaged, with a very high share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school serves a racially diverse population, with roughly equal representation of Black and white students, alongside smaller numbers of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students, plus one American Indian student.
The school's state test results are very low across the subjects tested. In math and English language arts for grades three through eight, the proficiency rate was in the single digits. Science proficiency, measured at a smaller sample of tested students, was also low. These numbers reflect what alternative schools typically serve: students who have struggled in traditional settings, who may have behavioral or attendance challenges, who are credit-deficient, or who come from complex home circumstances. State testing does not capture the full mission of an alternative school, which often centers on re-engagement, credit recovery, individualized pacing, and stability rather than on standardized academic mastery. A parent considering Ray Street Academy should ask the school directly about its approach to these goals, the structure of its day, its counseling and support services, its graduation pathway for high school students, and outcomes beyond state tests.
Data on the school's staffing, discipline policies, course offerings, and attendance were not available. Enrollment figures by grade show a concentration of students in grades seven through nine, with very few high school students in grades ten through twelve, which may suggest either that the school serves primarily younger adolescents or that older students exit before completion. State assessment data do not include participation rates, so it is unclear whether all enrolled students took the tests or only a subset. A parent may want to look into these operational details directly with the school.
Graham itself is the county seat of Alamance County, a small Piedmont city with a revitalized downtown centered on Court Square. The city has shifted over the past decade from a longtime textile and manufacturing base toward younger, more transient residents, with new apartments, restaurants, and breweries in restored downtown buildings. Housing is moderately priced relative to the national average, and the city sits along the I-40/I-85 corridor between the Research Triangle and the Piedmont Triad, making it accessible for families commuting to larger employment centers. Alamance Community College, LabCorp, Cone Health, and county government are major employers nearby.
The broader Alamance-Burlington district recently opened Southeast Alamance High School in 2023, its first new high school in decades, and completed a major capital bond that included security upgrades and facility improvements across the system. The district also implemented a classroom cell phone restriction for the 2025-2026 school year.
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