Tar Heel School

Summary:

Tar Heel School is an elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the small town of Tar Heel, North Carolina, with a student population of 287 that is predominantly Hispanic, African American, and White. However, the school faces significant challenges, including low student performance, high poverty rates, and limited per-student spending.

Tar Heel School's student performance on state assessments is generally below the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in Mathematics ranged from 14.8% in 8th grade to 54.5% in 4th grade, compared to the state averages of 46.9% to 62.7%. Similarly, in Reading, the proficiency rates ranged from 19.2% in 6th grade to 36.4% in 4th grade, compared to the state averages of 48.4% to 52.8%. The school's performance also varies significantly by student subgroup, with Hispanic students performing relatively better than White students, who have a 0 out of 5 star rating on the SchoolDigger scale.

Tar Heel School's challenges are further compounded by its extremely high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.32% to 99.09% over the past three school years, indicating a very high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Additionally, the school's per-student spending of $9,148 in the 2018-2019 school year is lower than the state average, which may contribute to the school's academic challenges. While Tar Heel School's performance is generally lower than nearby schools in the Bladen County Schools district, there are examples of high-poverty schools in the region, such as Magnolia Elementary and East Robeson Primary, that are able to achieve stronger academic outcomes, suggesting that Tar Heel School may benefit from examining and adopting effective practices from these successful schools.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 14888 Hwy 87 West
       Tar Heel, NC  28392


(910) 862-2475

District: Bladen County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1136th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,148 Help


Students who attend Tar Heel School usually attend:

High:    West Bladen High

Student/teacher ratio:  16.3 Help
Number of students:  255

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
42.0%
African American:
27.5%
White:
23.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  98.8% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Tar Heel School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Tar Heel School ranks worse than 75.5% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 3rd among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Bladen County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 28.12. (See more...)
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Compare Details Tar Heel School ranks worse than 81.1% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.59. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Tar Heel School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (42%), African American (27.5%), White (23.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 98.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Tar Heel School is 16.3. 4 elementary schools in the Bladen County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Tar Heel School employs 15.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Tar Heel School is $9,148, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Bladen County Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Tar Heel School:

SchoolDigger ranks Tar Heel School 1136th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Tar Heel School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Tar Heel School 643rd of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Tar Heel School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Bladen County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Bladen County Schools 185th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Tar Heel School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 28.12 1136th 1505 24.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 35.04 1015th 1450 30.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 29.95 1090th 1455 25.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 28.33 1116th 1464 23.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 40.61 563rd 924 39.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 49.15 464th 951 51.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 9.37 1135th 1166 2.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Tar Heel School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 27.14 489th 598 18.2%
2007 30.34 483rd 606 20.3%
2008 33.92 448th 620 27.7%
2009 40.92 433rd 630 31.3%
2010 40.82 443rd 640 30.8%
2011 45.09 425th 648 34.4%
2012 34.36 492nd 662 25.7%
2013 22.63 530th 673 21.2%
2014 20.91 509th 627 18.8%
2015 28.55 518th 705 26.5%
2016 28.41 513th 692 25.9%
2017 33.55 486th 694 30.0%
2018 19.61 573rd 691 17.1%
2019 25.38 590th 737 19.9%
2021 16.21 633rd 741 14.6%
2022 21.50 643rd 786 18.2%
2023 26.70 590th 784 24.7%
2024 21.59 643rd 793 18.9%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 47.75 81st 236 65.7%
2022 39.43 175th 312 43.9%
2023 60.71 64th 318 79.9%
2024 44.71 171st 356 52.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.91 508th 604 15.9%
2019 38.41 426th 639 33.3%
2021 18.18 561st 633 11.4%
2022 28.06 534th 689 22.5%
2023 38.44 464th 735 36.9%
2024 27.99 579th 743 22.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Migrant students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 57.98 3rd 6 50.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.05 547th 656 16.6%
2019 35.97 475th 684 30.6%
2021 16.21 620th 706 12.2%
2022 21.03 607th 733 17.2%
2023 19.38 622nd 731 14.9%
2024 18.09 639th 738 13.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 43.83 264th 504 47.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Gifted and Talented students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 54.92 246th 448 45.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.84 582nd 665 12.5%
2019 17.66 605th 697 13.2%
2021 17.32 614th 711 13.6%
2022 21.22 618th 748 17.4%
2023 33.11 511th 747 31.6%
2024 25.29 586th 751 22.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.66 428th 494 13.4%
2019 20.57 471st 519 9.2%
2021 20.99 474th 533 11.1%
2022 28.77 425th 550 22.7%
2023 27.42 446th 559 20.2%
2024 27.60 433rd 560 22.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.08 298th 472 36.9%
2019 57.60 155th 493 68.6%
2021 24.25 440th 522 15.7%
2022 29.84 410th 541 24.2%
2023 41.84 332nd 553 40.0%
2024 36.48 383rd 564 32.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Tar Heel School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.00 573rd 596 3.9%
2019 15.63 578th 624 7.4%
2021 22.82 523rd 632 17.2%
2022 12.66 623rd 658 5.3%
2023 19.59 570th 656 13.1%
2024 11.44 617th 652 5.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Tar Heel School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Tar Heel School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 131 135 0 19 7 n/a n/a 0 292
2003 131 135 0 19 7 n/a n/a 0 292
2004 134 153 0 25 5 n/a n/a 0 317
2005 182 204 0 36 4 n/a n/a 0 426
2006 162 162 0 39 4 n/a n/a 0 367
2007 171 147 0 48 0 n/a n/a 1 367
2008 144 130 0 47 1 n/a n/a 2 324
2009 123 131 0 51 4 n/a n/a 0 309
2010 134 121 0 56 5 n/a n/a 0 316
2011 131 119 0 77 5 0 15 0 347
2012 141 111 0 95 8 0 17 0 372
2013 146 114 0 112 7 0 8 0 387
2014 118 85 0 120 9 0 6 0 338
2015 112 84 0 116 8 0 6 0 326
2016 92 87 0 116 6 0 10 0 311
2017 101 77 0 110 5 0 9 0 302
2018 101 94 0 123 5 0 13 0 336
2019 85 98 0 142 6 0 10 0 341
2020 82 95 0 154 9 1 9 0 350
2021 76 83 0 146 15 1 9 0 330
2022 70 75 0 134 11 0 8 0 298
2023 67 71 0 129 14 0 6 0 287
2024 60 70 0 107 8 1 9 0 255

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Tar Heel School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 292 21.0 13.9 72.9
2003 292 21.0 13.9 72.9
2004 317 21.0 15.1 73.8
2005 426 21.0 20.3 66.9
2006 367 21.0 17.5 71.9
2007 367 23.0 16.0 70.2
2008 324 23.0 14.1 n/a
2009 309 23.0 13.4 65.7
2010 316 25.1 12.5 76.9
2011 347 24.0 14.4 71.8
2012 372 23.0 16.1 77.2
2013 387 21.9 17.6 81.7
2014 338 22.9 14.7 82
2015 326 18.0 18.1 99.1
2016 311 17.0 18.2 99
2017 302 14.9 20.2 98
2018 336 15.7 21.4 99.1
2019 341 16.9 20.1 99.1
2020 350 19.0 18.4 99.1
2021 330 20.7 15.8 99.1
2022 298 16.9 17.6 98.3
2023 287 15.6 18.3 99
2024 255 15.6 16.3 98.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Tar Heel School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 292 21.0 13.9 72.9
2003 292 21.0 13.9 72.9
2004 317 21.0 15.1 73.8
2005 426 21.0 20.3 66.9
2006 367 21.0 17.5 71.9
2007 367 23.0 16.0 70.2
2008 324 23.0 14.1 n/a
2009 309 23.0 13.4 65.7
2010 316 25.1 12.5 76.9
2011 347 24.0 14.4 71.8
2012 372 23.0 16.1 77.2
2013 387 21.9 17.6 81.7
2014 338 22.9 14.7 82
2015 326 18.0 18.1 99.1
2016 311 17.0 18.2 99
2017 302 14.9 20.2 98
2018 336 15.7 21.4 99.1
2019 341 16.9 20.1 99.1
2020 350 19.0 18.4 99.1
2021 330 20.7 15.8 99.1
2022 298 16.9 17.6 98.3
2023 287 15.6 18.3 99
2024 255 15.6 16.3 98.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Tar Heel School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,514 (16.6%) $7,634 (83.4%) $9,148

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Tar Heel School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 590th of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 590th of 784 Middle schools
 4.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
5th Grade Mathematics (Tar Heel School)5036.5
 13.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Bladen County Schools)48.532.4
 16.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Tar Heel School)34.828.4
 6.4%
   5th Grade Reading (Bladen County Schools)41.923.7
 18.2%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Tar Heel School)67.437.8
 29.6%
   5th Grade Science (Bladen County Schools)65.845
 20.8%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Tar Heel School)48.531.8
 16.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Bladen County Schools)40.930.5
 10.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Tar Heel School)45.428.8
 16.6%
   6th Grade Reading (Bladen County Schools)48.635.8
 12.8%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Tar Heel School)45.730
 15.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Bladen County Schools)49.230.8
 18.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Tar Heel School)50.640
 10.6%
   7th Grade Reading (Bladen County Schools)54.937.5
 17.4%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Tar Heel School)20.531.4
 10.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Bladen County Schools)30.834.9
 4.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.644.8
 7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Tar Heel School)42.238.6
 3.6%
   8th Grade Reading (Bladen County Schools)48.439.5
 8.9%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.651
 4.6%
8th Grade Science (Tar Heel School)63.968.6
 4.7%
   8th Grade Science (Bladen County Schools)71.259.5
 11.7%
   8th Grade Science (North Carolina)78.670.3
 8.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students341287
 15.8%
African American9871
 27.6%
American Indian614
 133.3%
Asian00
Hispanic142129
 9.2%
Pacific Islander00
White8567
 21.2%
Two or More Races106
 40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.1%99%
 0.2%


Schools Near Tar Heel School









Frequently Asked Questions about Tar Heel School

In the 2023-24 school year, 255 students attended Tar Heel School.

Tar Heel School ranks in the bottom 24.5% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Students at Tar Heel School are 42% Hispanic, 27% African American, 24% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% American Indian.

Students who attend Tar Heel School usually go on to attend:

High : West Bladen High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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