The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Forest Hills Middle
Forest Hills Middle serves the middle grades in Wilson, a small city in eastern North Carolina that sits at the intersection of a transformed economy and rapid growth. The school enrolls a student population that is substantially African American, with a large Hispanic representation and smaller shares of white, Asian, and multiracial students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that shapes the school's context and the supports families draw on.
The school's most recent state assessment results show proficiency rates in the low to mid-range. In English language arts, just over half the students tested met proficiency standards. In mathematics, the share was slightly lower, falling just above half. In science, proficiency dropped further. These results sit below the median performance in the county's five districts, and a parent considering this school should understand that this is an academic environment where most students are not yet meeting grade-level standards in at least two subjects.
Forest Hills is located in Wilson, where the economic and physical landscape is shifting. The city has recently announced a cluster of major life-science manufacturing employers and is in the midst of a housing boom, with subdivisions and new retail construction spreading into the northwest. The downtown historic core has been revived with arts venues, breweries, and restaurants anchored by the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and the recently renamed Amtrak station. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to the state and nation, and rents have been rising modestly. For families relocating here, a property revaluation completed in 2024 led to a county tax rate decrease on paper, but because assessed values rose substantially, many homeowners saw monthly tax bills climb. School-related capital costs, including a new elementary school under construction, were cited as drivers of that shift.
The Wilson County Schools district itself is in a period of change. The district closed two schools in 2022, Winstead Elementary and Toisnot Middle, and reassigned students across the system. Frederick Douglass Elementary, displaced from its original building, spent its third consecutive year in a temporary location at the former Toisnot Middle, with students expected to move into a newly rebuilt school for the 2027-2028 school year. The district funded this reconstruction with local taxpayer dollars through a long-term bond, signaling a commitment to new facilities but also placing that obligation on property owners' shoulders. No data was available on staff size, discipline policies, or attendance rates at Forest Hills, so a parent would want to inquire with the school directly about those operational details.
Forest Hills Middle is a conventional middle school serving grades six through eight in a district experiencing consolidation and rebuilding. Its state test results indicate that academic support and intervention will be important for most students if they are to reach proficiency by high school entry. For families in Wilson or the county, the school offers neighborhood access in a city that is attracting new residents and employers, even as the district navigates facility transitions and the taxpayer cost of capital projects.
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