The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Science. The lowest is 55% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Four Oaks Middle
Four Oaks Middle serves grades six through eight in the Johnston County Public Schools district, a system experiencing rapid growth tied to development along the Research Triangle and I-95 corridor. The school enrolls students of mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds, with substantial representation of Hispanic and white students, and a very large share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
On state assessments, Four Oaks Middle shows uneven performance across subjects. In math, proficiency sits at a moderate level. English language arts proficiency is slightly lower. Science is notably stronger, well above the other two subjects. These results describe a student body where some students are gaining solid ground in science while reading and math proficiency rates suggest meaningful support needs in those areas. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school on how the stronger science results translate to overall momentum and what specific supports exist in math and reading for students falling short of proficiency.
The school sits within Johnston County Public Schools, a district in transition. Voters approved a major school bond in 2022 and then a second substantial bond in 2024, both with strong community support. The 2022 bond funded a new high school slated to open in 2026, a new elementary school, and campus additions across feeder patterns. The 2024 bond targets new construction and renovations aimed at reducing the district's reliance on mobile classrooms, which numbered in the dozens heading into the vote. For a family considering Four Oaks Middle, this context matters: the district is investing heavily in growth management and physical capacity, signaling both recognition of enrollment pressure and concrete effort to address it over the medium term.
Four Oaks is a small Johnston County town of rural agricultural heritage now experiencing rapid residential and industrial growth. The compact downtown retains a historic commercial core and hosts community events, while newer subdivisions and commercial development have spread along the I-95 and US 70 corridors. Becton Dickinson operates a large distribution facility, and CommWell Health has administrative offices and a new medical device center under development in the town. Publicly reported sources indicate the town population has grown and is continuing to grow, with dozens of new-home subdivisions active in the area. Home values in the Four Oaks zip code sit below the state benchmark, and mortgage affordability remains moderate relative to national norms.
This is a school in a district managing rapid growth. The peer environment reflects Johnston County's demographic diversity. Academic results suggest students arrive with varied preparation and that the school is making progress in science while working to strengthen foundational proficiency in reading and math. A parent weighing Four Oaks Middle would be choosing a school navigating genuine growth pressures but one backed by community-supported capital investment and district-level expansion planning. The pathway forward depends on the family's view of the school's specific academic supports, the pace of the district's construction timeline, and the fit between the student's needs and what the school offers.
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