The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Science. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on East Hoke Middle
East Hoke Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Raeford, the county seat of Hoke County. The school sits in a small city that blends historic character with rapid growth, driven partly by military expansion at nearby Fort Bragg (Fort Liberty) and new housing development. The surrounding community includes Butterball's turkey processing operation, the long-standing Burlington Industries fabric plant, and a multicultural population drawing on European, African American, and Lumbee Indian heritage.
Enrollment at the school runs close to eight hundred students, distributed evenly across the three middle grades. The student population reflects the area's demography: the plurality are Black students, with substantial shares of Hispanic, white, and multiracial students, and smaller numbers of Asian and Native American students. Nearly all students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is consistent with the county's broader household income profile.
The most recent state testing data, from the 2024-25 school year, shows proficiency rates that are below state norms. In math, roughly one third of students tested as proficient or above. English language arts proficiency stands at roughly four in ten students. Science proficiency, measured for only a portion of the enrolled grade span, runs at just above half. These results come from North Carolina's End-of-Grade assessments and reflect the grade band actually tested in middle school; the math and language arts numbers carry direct comparison weight across the state. The science assessment methodology changed this year, so trend comparisons are not yet reliable.
The school operates within Hoke County Schools, a district in the midst of significant infrastructure change. The county's only traditional high school, Hoke County High, is undergoing a major on-site replacement and expansion funded by a substantial state capital grant and county funds, meant to yield a modern facility addressing long-standing overcrowding and updating science, engineering, and athletic spaces. For families considering a move to the area, this investment signals sustained district commitment and will reshape high school pathways over the coming years.
Hoke County itself is among the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina. New residential subdivisions have brought hundreds of new homes to the area, and housing inventory remains active. The housing market in the Raeford zip code runs moderately below the North Carolina state benchmark in median value and remains relatively affordable by national standards. Rent is modest, and the ratio of rent to local income sits below the national norm. The county last reappraised property values in 2022, with the next revaluation scheduled for 2030, meaning homeowners moving in now can anticipate tax exposure tied to the 2022 assessment through the rest of the decade.
Raeford itself retains a small-town civic center anchored by the historic courthouse, city hall, and county library, all clustered on Main Street downtown. The broader city spreads as a sparse suburban landscape organized around major highways rather than dense pedestrian neighborhoods. The Hoke County Public Library offers programming including story times, computer classes, and family literacy support. Daily life draws on employers across the county: besides manufacturing and processing operations, Hoke County Schools and FirstHealth of the Carolinas rank among major employers.
State assessment data for this school were available. Enrollment and demographic data were reported. Special population counts—students with IEPs and English learners—were not available in the data. Graduation rate and chronic absenteeism figures do not apply because the school serves only middle grades. The comparison universe for this school held only one district entity, so relative positioning within the county could not be calculated; school-level performance stands on its own against state proficiency benchmarks. School staffing, attendance patterns, and course-access details were not available.
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