The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Science. The lowest is 35% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Oxendine Elementary
Oxendine Elementary is a small public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Maxton, a rural town in Robeson County that has experienced decades of economic decline. The school sits in a tight-knit community where civic life centers on the historic downtown, though the region has lost population and employment as agriculture consolidated and regional commerce shifted away from town.
The student body is predominantly American Indian, reflecting the demographics of the county and the broader Lumbee River region. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which signals both deep economic strain in the area and that the school serves a population facing material hardship. Enrollment is small but stable across the grade levels served.
In math proficiency, the school reaches about two-thirds of tested students. Science proficiency is similar. English language arts proficiency is substantially lower, with only about one-third of tested students reaching proficiency levels. Reading comprehension and writing appear to be areas where additional support is needed. The school's English language arts results merit close attention; a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what literacy support exists, how the EL Education curriculum now in use across the district is being implemented at Oxendine, and what interventions are available for students who struggle. The district has recently adopted Science of Reading practices and structured literacy methods at the elementary level, which may influence how reading is taught here going forward.
State testing data covers only grades three through six and only students who took the assessments. The school does not serve all grade levels tested statewide, so no full-district comparison is available from the data provided. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were not reported.
Maxton itself offers limited job options locally—small businesses line Patterson Street, and the nearest major employers including a food-processing plant and regional hospital are outside the immediate area. The town center has a restored historic district and civic anchors like Beacham Park, but economic conditions remain constrained. Housing values are modest and the local tax base for schools is among the tightest in North Carolina. The district has invested in a new Career and Technical Education Center opening in August 2025 in nearby Pembroke, with programs in welding, culinary arts, drone technology, and other trades that may open pathways for older students, but a major source of planned federal pandemic-relief funding for building improvements was cancelled in 2025, leaving facility upgrades unfunded. That backdrop of limited local resources is part of what families choose when they choose a Robeson County school.
For an elementary school in rural Robeson County, Oxendine offers a neighborhood-based, full-day program across the early grades. Families should factor in that reading support appears to be an area of need, and that the school and district operate with significant budget constraints.
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