The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Science. The lowest is 67% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Roland-grise Middle
Roland-Grise Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Wilmington, North Carolina. The school enrolls a diverse student body of moderate size within its grade band, with about a third of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is split fairly evenly across the three grades, with sixth grade slightly larger than eighth grade.
The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic presence making up roughly a fifth of enrollment, and smaller populations of Black students and students of Asian descent. The school's enrollment reflects the broader Wilmington area, which continues to grow and diversify.
State testing results from the most recent school year show mixed performance across subjects. In mathematics, Roland-Grise achieved proficiency at a moderate rate, slightly above two-thirds of students tested. English language arts results were similar, with proficiency in the upper-middle range. Science proficiency was notably stronger, with a substantially higher proportion of students meeting grade-level standards. The science assessment underwent changes in both name and scoring criteria this year, which affects year-to-year comparison. The gap between science and the two core subjects suggests the school's strength may be in science instruction or engagement, though a parent may want to ask the school directly about factors driving these differences.
Wilmington itself is a mid-sized coastal port city anchored by healthcare, education, technology, and port-related employment, with major employers including a major regional hospital, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and nCino, a fintech company. The downtown core is unusually walkable for its size, centered on a riverwalk and historic district, though most of the city outside that core is auto-oriented. The region is in sustained growth; the metro ranked among the fastest-growing in the nation recently, and new residential communities and infill development are underway. Housing costs have risen sharply over the past decade, and a recent survey found a substantial portion of Wilmington households struggling with affordability.
New Hanover County Schools, the district that operates Roland-Grise, is preparing for significant expansion and renovation. A major school facilities bond referendum will appear on the ballot in November 2026, aimed at replacing middle and elementary schools, building new schools to accommodate growth, and funding improvements at the high school. A community endowment has committed a substantial grant contingent on the bond's passage, which would reduce the projected property-tax impact. The outcome will shape school infrastructure and family tax bills for years. The district has also adopted a stricter cell phone policy aimed at reducing cyberbullying and protecting student privacy, and has voted to incorporate the history of a historically Black coastal resort near Carolina Beach into the curriculum.
No information was available about the school's special education or English learner populations, attendance or discipline patterns, staffing, or course and program offerings beyond regular coursework. A parent seeking detail on those dimensions should contact the school directly.
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