The top reported proficiency rate is 9% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Star Academy
STAR Academy is a small alternative school serving grades six through twelve in Lillington, located at the county seat of Harnett County, midway between Raleigh and Fayetteville. The school's enrollment is very small, concentrated in the middle and high school years with the largest cohorts in grades eight and nine. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is majority African American with smaller representations of Hispanic and white students.
As an alternative school, STAR Academy sits outside the conventional secondary pathway. The data does not indicate whether the school offers a standard college-preparatory curriculum, dual-credit pathways, career and technical education, or specialized programs. Parents considering this school should understand the alternative model firsthand by asking the school directly about its academic structure, supports, philosophy, and intended student outcomes, since program specifics do not appear in the available data.
State testing results from the most recent school year show persistently low proficiency across the tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency was in the low single digits. Mathematics proficiency was at or near zero. Science proficiency was similarly very low. These numbers reflect the actual tested population at the school. The small tested counts suggest the enrollment figures align with what took tests. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is unclear whether these results represent a persistent condition or a recent change. A parent may want to look into this further with the school directly, understanding both the school's role as an alternative setting and what academic gains or support pathways it prioritizes for its students.
The school is part of Harnett County Schools, a district serving a rapidly growing region. The county is on a steep expansion trajectory with thousands of new residential lots approved and a major mixed-use master-planned community called Capeton beginning development in early 2025 along the Cape Fear River. The district recently exited the state's low-performing designation after gains in multiple reading and math assessments in 2024-25. However, individual school performance across the district remains uneven; thirteen schools hold D grades and two hold F grades. The district is building a new middle school, Flatwoods, projected to open in fall 2026 to relieve overcrowding in the central county area.
Housing in the Lillington zip code is modestly priced relative to state and national benchmarks, with a median home value below the state average and monthly rental costs that are manageable relative to local incomes. This is a working small town with a real downtown anchored by the county courthouse and locally rooted civic anchors including the public library, parks, and community theatre. The town is planning infrastructure upgrades including sidewalk and walkability improvements as part of its downtown master plan.
STAR Academy is best understood as an alternative placement designed for students whose needs or circumstances fall outside a traditional secondary school. The state test results indicate academic proficiency is not a strength of the current population. A family should ask the school what its mission is, what population it serves, what interventions or supports it provides, and what success looks like for its graduates.
See more original research from School Decision →