Guilford County Schools

The Guilford County Schools district in North Carolina encompasses 123 schools, including 69 elementary schools, 21 middle schools, 30 high schools, and 3 alternative schools. The district serves a diverse student population and exhibits a wide range of academic performance, with some standout schools ranking among the best in the state and others struggling to meet proficiency standards.

Among the top-performing schools in the district are Northwest Guilford High, which consistently ranks in the top 150 high schools in North Carolina, and Early College at Guilford, which is one of the top-ranked high schools in the state. These schools boast exceptional test scores, with proficiency rates well above the district and state averages. In contrast, schools like Waldo C Falkener Senior Elementary and Gillespie Park Elementary face significant challenges, with proficiency rates well below the district and state levels.

The data suggests a strong correlation between a school's socioeconomic status, as measured by free/reduced lunch rates, and its academic performance. The highest-performing schools tend to have lower free/reduced lunch rates, while the lowest-performing schools have very high rates, often exceeding 95%. Additionally, specialized schools, such as the various early college and middle college programs, tend to outperform traditional high schools in the district, likely due to their more selective admissions, higher levels of student engagement, and greater resources.