The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 53% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on South Brunswick Middle
South Brunswick Middle sits in Southport, a small, older coastal town at the mouth of the Cape Fear River with a heavily residential character and a retiree-oriented pace. The school serves grades six through eight and enrolled a small cohort of students, with the student body predominantly white and nearly all students from families qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
The school's 2024-2025 state test results show proficiency rates that sit below the county midpoint in math and English language arts. In math, about half of students scored at proficient level or above on the state End-of-Grade Test. In English language arts the result was slightly stronger. Science proficiency was notably higher, at levels well above the other two subjects, though the science test was administered to a smaller subset of students and underwent changes to its assessment framework in 2024-2025, so year-to-year comparisons are not yet available. A parent may want to look into how the school is addressing the gaps in math and ELA, particularly for students approaching high school, and what support structures exist for students working below proficiency.
The Brunswick County Schools district, which operates South Brunswick Middle, has signaled its direction clearly through recent decisions. The Board of Education adopted a 2024-2029 strategic plan committing to common core curricula across all state-tested subjects and substantially expanded work-based learning pathways, with a goal of having a majority of students access internships, apprenticeships, or college partnerships by 2029. This represents a deliberate move toward standardization and career readiness. Separately, after parent and teacher backlash in 2022, the district paused a planned shift to standards-based grading, preserving traditional 0-100 point scales that families rely on for honor roll, GPA, and college applications. That decision reflects responsiveness to family concerns about instructional change.
A major referendum was placed on the November 2026 ballot for a substantial bond to build a new elementary school and a new high school and renovate existing facilities. Elementary schools are already at capacity and all schools are projected to exceed capacity within a few years. The referendum's outcome will determine class sizes, attendance zones, and property-tax obligations for the next decade, making it a decisive factor for families considering a move into the area. If the referendum fails, the next opportunity does not come until 2028.
Southport itself is entering a rapid growth phase. A large mixed-use development called Waterway Community was approved in June 2025 off West 9th Street and is expected to add hundreds of housing units, with infrastructure beginning in late 2025 and first homes arriving in 2026. Smaller workforce housing and new-construction subdivisions are also moving forward. The median home value in the Southport ZIP code is in the mid-range for North Carolina, and rental costs are modest relative to regional norms, though both have dipped slightly year-over-year. For families already in the area, housing remains relatively affordable; for those relocating, the growth trajectory and potential school capacity constraints are worth monitoring against the bond referendum outcome.
Housing market data was not available. State testing data reflects only the most recent year, so multi-year trend analysis is not yet possible. Data on special education and English learner populations at the school was not provided. The school's course offerings, staff composition, discipline data, and attendance rates were also not included.
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