The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Math. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on E J Hayes Elementary
E J Hayes Elementary is a small upper-elementary school serving grades three through five in Williamston, the Martin County seat. It draws from a community facing steady population decline and operates in a district undergoing significant structural change.
The school's student body is predominantly economically disadvantaged. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that reflects the broader economic conditions in eastern North Carolina. Racial composition skews toward Black students, with a substantial minority of white students and smaller populations of Hispanic and multiracial children. Data on enrollment in special education and English learner programs was not available.
State testing results for the most recent year show proficiency below what parents might expect. In English language arts, about two in five students tested at proficient or above. Math fared somewhat better, with about four in five students reaching proficiency. Science proficiency fell between the two. These numbers rest on a different state science test than prior years, so year-to-year comparison is not possible. The school's enrollment sits at a small-to-mid size for an upper-elementary building in this grade band, with roughly even distribution across grades three, four, and five.
Williamston itself is a small county seat of roughly [a figure] residents, a place built on agriculture, wood products, and serving as a regional commercial hub. The population has been declining steadily, falling from a somewhat higher figure in 2020 to today. The town has a walkable historic downtown along Main Street with local shops, restaurants, and a brewery, though resident reviews note downtown struggles and hollowing. Outside that core, the town is car-dependent, with national retailers and fast food concentrated along highway corridors. Housing is older, with a median construction year in the mid-[span], and a notable share of units sitting vacant. The Roanoke River anchors outdoor life: Moratoc Park, River Landing, and the mile-plus Skewarkee Rail Trail offer boardwalks, kayak access, and bike-pedestrian connection to downtown.
The district is in the midst of major consolidation. In 2024, Martin County Schools closed South Creek High School and merged it with Riverside High School in Williamston, leaving the county with a single traditional public high school. In 2025, the district received a substantial state grant to design and build a new high school building as a long-term recruitment asset. As of spring 2026, the board was weighing a parallel merger of South Creek Middle School in Robersonville with Riverside Middle School in Williamston, which would leave the district with one middle school and one high school. If that consolidation moves forward, families in Robersonville would see bus times and school assignments shift materially. This restructuring reflects years of enrollment loss across the county. For families considering E J Hayes or the district as a whole, these shifts are active and ongoing, and understanding how they may affect school assignments and commute times is worth discussing directly with the district.
See more original research from School Decision →