Purnell Swett High

Summary:

Purnell Swett High is a public high school in Pembroke, North Carolina, serving 1,608 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Public Schools of Robeson County district, which is ranked 216 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Purnell Swett High has a unique racial makeup, with a majority of Native American students (79.91%) and smaller percentages of other races. Academically, the school's performance is generally lower than nearby schools, such as PSRC Early College at RCC and SandHoke Early College High, which have consistently ranked in the top 5% of North Carolina high schools. Purnell Swett High has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger and has struggled with its gifted and talented program, which has fluctuated in performance over the years. However, the school's special education program is a standout, ranking in the top 10% of North Carolina high schools for this student group.

The high percentage of Native American students at Purnell Swett High, coupled with the school's lower academic performance, raises questions about potential racial disparities in educational outcomes. Additionally, the extremely high rate of free and reduced-price lunch recipients (over 99%) indicates that the school serves a community with significant economic challenges, which likely contributes to the academic struggles. While these factors present unique challenges, Purnell Swett High's strong performance in serving its special education population suggests that the school may have effective strategies and resources in place to support students with special needs.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 11344 Deep Branch Road
       Pembroke, NC  28364


(910) 521-3253

District: Public Schools of Robeson County

SchoolDigger Rank:
447th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,198 Help


Feeder schools for Purnell Swett High:

Elementary:    Deep Branch Elementary
    Pembroke Elementary
    Prospect Elementary
Middle:    Pembroke Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  17.7 Help
Number of students:  1,604

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:
80.2%
African American:
9.5%
Hispanic:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.5% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

 Compare Purnell Swett High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Purnell Swett High ranks worse than 69.8% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 3rd among 6 ranked high schools in the Public Schools of Robeson County District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 30.51. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: American Indian (80.2%), African American (9.5%), Hispanic (4.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Purnell Swett High is 17.7, which is the 3rd best among 6 high schools in the Public Schools of Robeson County District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Purnell Swett High employs 90.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Purnell Swett High is $10,198. 4 high schools in the Public Schools of Robeson County District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Purnell Swett High:

SchoolDigger ranks Purnell Swett High 447th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Purnell Swett High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
Native American students:


Public Schools of Robeson County:

SchoolDigger ranks Public Schools of Robeson County 216th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Purnell Swett High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 37.24 316th 431 26.7%
2007 29.98 343rd 453 24.3%
2008 37.01 343rd 477 28.1%
2009 38.95 349th 490 28.8%
2010 31.60 395th 499 20.8%
2011 39.79 361st 506 28.7%
2012 25.04 401st 502 20.1%
2013 17.13 405th 505 19.8%
2014 12.67 393rd 451 12.9%
2015 17.62 419th 531 21.1%
2016 13.95 426th 507 16.0%
2017 15.82 392nd 476 17.6%
2018 24.89 352nd 469 24.9%
2019 25.77 374th 514 27.2%
2021 13.46 533rd 594 10.3%
2022 23.44 473rd 621 23.8%
2023 33.64 408th 626 34.8%
2024 30.51 447th 640 30.2%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 46.46 104th 195 46.7%
2021 5.07 198th 199 0.5%
2023 12.56 235th 249 5.6%
2024 35.13 179th 261 31.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 30.94 190th 262 27.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 76.47 34th 349 90.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.13 310th 424 26.9%
2019 32.14 275th 446 38.3%
2021 15.28 402nd 432 6.9%
2022 23.98 439th 544 19.3%
2023 32.85 387th 597 35.2%
2024 31.62 418th 613 31.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.63 335th 449 25.4%
2019 22.14 378th 475 20.4%
2021 12.56 421st 475 11.4%
2022 26.61 443rd 594 25.4%
2023 35.04 384th 588 34.7%
2024 31.35 422nd 602 29.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.79 178th 349 49.0%
2019 19.62 330th 364 9.3%
2021 27.00 265th 334 20.7%
2022 24.54 264th 330 20.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 55.36 155th 325 52.3%
2021 29.66 267th 337 20.8%
2022 61.70 177th 398 55.5%
2023 50.67 244th 403 39.5%
2024 38.46 316th 403 21.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.50 375th 463 19.0%
2019 25.64 352nd 488 27.9%
2021 12.57 435th 481 9.6%
2022 18.61 484th 585 17.3%
2023 30.49 417th 602 30.7%
2024 27.94 449th 607 26.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.53 247th 359 31.2%
2019 27.55 281st 369 23.8%
2021 20.38 318th 364 12.6%
2022 28.94 303rd 430 29.5%
2023 40.49 227th 434 47.7%
2024 36.78 257th 437 41.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 15.02 344th 370 7.0%
2022 31.25 301st 436 31.0%
2023 31.65 306th 449 31.8%
2024 29.38 326th 454 28.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.41 9th 16 43.8%
2019 51.73 7th 17 58.8%
2021 36.24 10th 13 23.1%
2022 48.47 6th 15 60.0%
2023 65.88 2nd 16 87.5%
2024 56.21 5th 15 66.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Purnell Swett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.03 393rd 427 8.0%
2022 10.34 499th 534 6.6%
2023 22.96 441st 537 17.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High 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.

Purnell Swett High 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 Purnell Swett High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 96 262 2 6 1314 n/a n/a 1 1681
1989 87 248 0 4 1297 n/a n/a 5 1641
1990 71 250 0 4 1311 n/a n/a 1 1637
1991 69 241 0 0 1267 n/a n/a 0 1577
1992 66 218 1 2 1365 n/a n/a -6 1646
1993 60 220 1 2 1276 n/a n/a 0 1559
1994 42 197 0 2 1243 n/a n/a 0 1484
1995 48 239 1 5 1230 n/a n/a 0 1523
1996 48 239 1 5 1230 n/a n/a 0 1523
1997 53 237 0 5 1272 n/a n/a 0 1567
1998 47 212 0 4 1221 n/a n/a 0 1484
1999 56 211 1 5 1231 n/a n/a 0 1504
2000 60 213 0 4 1209 n/a n/a 0 1486
2001 73 199 0 8 1230 n/a n/a 0 1510
2002 58 192 1 3 1252 n/a n/a 0 1506
2003 58 192 1 3 1252 n/a n/a 0 1506
2004 51 209 0 10 1247 n/a n/a 0 1517
2005 49 215 1 13 1288 n/a n/a 0 1566
2006 46 226 2 9 1241 n/a n/a 0 1524
2007 38 189 1 11 1175 n/a n/a 6 1420
2008 35 173 3 16 1216 n/a n/a 6 1449
2009 32 186 2 18 1292 n/a n/a 0 1530
2010 47 228 1 20 1388 n/a n/a 0 1684
2011 52 193 2 26 1307 0 68 0 1648
2012 49 187 2 24 1391 0 52 0 1705
2013 49 165 4 32 1435 0 44 0 1729
2014 51 142 2 33 1462 1 26 0 1717
2015 47 143 0 37 1549 1 22 0 1799
2016 55 135 0 36 1519 1 35 0 1781
2017 58 136 2 34 1448 1 28 0 1707
2018 54 133 3 32 1395 1 26 0 1644
2019 40 121 5 35 1250 1 41 0 1493
2020 38 167 5 55 1302 1 54 0 1622
2021 39 169 4 60 1308 0 48 0 1628
2022 49 159 3 62 1289 0 45 0 1607
2023 46 159 2 71 1285 1 44 0 1608
2024 45 153 2 71 1287 1 45 0 1604

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 Purnell Swett High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1681 86.0 19.5 41
1989 1641 86.0 19.0 47
1990 1637 93.0 17.6 51.4
1991 1577 92.0 17.1 53.3
1992 1646 110.0 14.9 27.1
1993 1559 84.0 18.6 44.4
1994 1484 87.0 17.1 44.7
1995 1523 87.0 17.5 49
1996 1523 87.0 17.5 49
1997 1567 98.0 16.0 36.6
1998 1484 98.0 15.1 44.7
1999 1504 98.0 15.3 56.3
2000 1486 98.0 15.2 63.3
2001 1510 98.0 15.4 59.4
2002 1506 98.0 15.4 0
2003 1506 98.0 15.4 0
2004 1517 98.0 15.5 68.2
2005 1566 111.0 14.1 69
2006 1524 111.0 13.7 52.6
2007 1420 98.8 14.4 59.7
2008 1449 99.5 14.6 n/a
2009 1530 94.5 16.2 n/a
2010 1684 99.0 17.0 67.9
2011 1648 99.3 16.5 69.7
2012 1705 96.2 17.7 68.2
2013 1729 96.5 17.9 75.8
2014 1717 95.6 17.9 71.6
2015 1799 95.0 18.9 99.8
2016 1781 96.0 18.5 99.8
2017 1707 96.9 17.6 97.7
2018 1644 93.2 17.6 97.6
2019 1493 90.5 16.4 99.5
2020 1622 90.8 17.8 99.3
2021 1628 93.0 17.4 99.8
2022 1607 90.3 17.7 99.8
2023 1608 92.5 17.3 99.6
2024 1604 90.2 17.7 99.5

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 Purnell Swett High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1681 86.0 19.5 41
1989 1641 86.0 19.0 47
1990 1637 93.0 17.6 51.4
1991 1577 92.0 17.1 53.3
1992 1646 110.0 14.9 27.1
1993 1559 84.0 18.6 44.4
1994 1484 87.0 17.1 44.7
1995 1523 87.0 17.5 49
1996 1523 87.0 17.5 49
1997 1567 98.0 16.0 36.6
1998 1484 98.0 15.1 44.7
1999 1504 98.0 15.3 56.3
2000 1486 98.0 15.2 63.3
2001 1510 98.0 15.4 59.4
2002 1506 98.0 15.4 0
2003 1506 98.0 15.4 0
2004 1517 98.0 15.5 68.2
2005 1566 111.0 14.1 69
2006 1524 111.0 13.7 52.6
2007 1420 98.8 14.4 59.7
2008 1449 99.5 14.6 n/a
2009 1530 94.5 16.2 n/a
2010 1684 99.0 17.0 67.9
2011 1648 99.3 16.5 69.7
2012 1705 96.2 17.7 68.2
2013 1729 96.5 17.9 75.8
2014 1717 95.6 17.9 71.6
2015 1799 95.0 18.9 99.8
2016 1781 96.0 18.5 99.8
2017 1707 96.9 17.6 97.7
2018 1644 93.2 17.6 97.6
2019 1493 90.5 16.4 99.5
2020 1622 90.8 17.8 99.3
2021 1628 93.0 17.4 99.8
2022 1607 90.3 17.7 99.8
2023 1608 92.5 17.3 99.6
2024 1604 90.2 17.7 99.5

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 Purnell Swett High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,489 (14.6%) $8,709 (85.4%) $10,198

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Purnell Swett High

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 374th of 514 High schoolsRanks 408th of 626 High schools
 7.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Purnell Swett High)44.849.1
 4.3%
   End of Course Biology (Public Schools of Robeson County)4849.2
 1.2%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Purnell Swett High)38.338.3
   End of Course English II (Public Schools of Robeson County)41.538.4
 3.1%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Purnell Swett High)41.630
 11.6%
   End of Course Math I (Public Schools of Robeson County)30.728.5
 2.2%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Purnell Swett High)24.958.7
 33.8%
   End of Course Math III (Public Schools of Robeson County)24.742.5
 17.8%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students14931608
 7.7%
African American121159
 31.4%
American Indian12501285
 2.8%
Asian52
 60%
Hispanic3571
 102.9%
Pacific Islander11
White4046
 15%
Two or More Races4144
 7.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.5%99.6%
 0%


Schools Near Purnell Swett High









Frequently Asked Questions about Purnell Swett High

Purnell Swett High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Deep Branch Elementary
Elementary : Pembroke Elementary
Elementary : Prospect Elementary
Middle : Pembroke Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,604 students attended Purnell Swett High.

Students at Purnell Swett High are 80% American Indian, 10% African American, 4% Hispanic, 3% White, 3% Two or more races.

Purnell Swett High ranks 447th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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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