The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Paisley Ib Magnet School
Paisley IB Magnet School is a middle and early high school serving grades six through ten in Winston-Salem, operating as a magnet program within the Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. The school enrolls students from across the county who apply to attend, drawing a student body that is substantially Black and Hispanic, with the vast majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school's recent state assessment results show proficiency rates below county and state norms. On the most recent End-of-Grade Tests, about a quarter of students tested met proficiency in math, roughly three in ten in English language arts, and about one in four in science. These numbers point to an academic profile where many students are not yet meeting grade-level standards in core subjects. State testing data does not capture the later grades served here (nine and ten), so it reflects primarily the middle school performance. A parent may want to understand directly with the school what support systems are in place for students working toward proficiency, and how the magnet's International Baccalaureate framework addresses this starting point.
Paisley is structured around the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme, which typically emphasize inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and international perspective across a broad curriculum. This approach appeals to families seeking a more conceptual, globally oriented academic pathway than a conventional school offers, though IB programs demand strong self-direction and writing skills. The magnet draws students by choice, meaning families have explicitly opted into this model rather than attending by default. The student body composition—with a heavy concentration of students from low-income households and predominantly students of color—reflects both the wider district demographics and the fact that magnet programs can draw families across socioeconomic lines when they perceive academic value, though testing results here suggest the program is still working to close proficiency gaps.
The school sits in Winston-Salem, a mid-sized North Carolina city that reversed decades of decline beginning in the early 2000s and now combines a historic downtown with significant medical and research employment anchors, particularly Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University. The city has invested in downtown revitalization, including the Innovation Quarter adaptive-reuse development and walkable districts, though infrastructure for pedestrians and transit outside the city center remains uneven. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks and has shown modest appreciation. The broader district recently navigated postponement of several major bond projects due to construction cost inflation, though county commissioners have since allocated additional funding to preserve other renovations; families should note that a potential bond referendum in 2028 has been signaled. Additionally, the district has adopted an earlier-than-state-statute school calendar beginning in late summer, a scheduling detail relevant for families managing childcare and summer commitments.
For a parent considering Paisley, the central question is whether the International Baccalaureate curriculum and magnet structure align with their child's learning style and whether they are prepared to support strong reading and writing demands. The low proficiency rates suggest this is not a high-achieving school by state measures at present; families drawn to rigorous academics may want to investigate whether the gap reflects student population needs, curriculum implementation, or resource constraints, and how the school's support systems are working to address it. The magnet also serves only through grade ten, so students complete high school elsewhere—a transition that families should plan for.
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