Public School Review - Established 2003

Purnell Swett High School vs. Fairmont High School

Should you attend Purnell Swett High School or Fairmont High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Purnell Swett High School
11344 Deep Branch Road
Pembroke, NC 28372
: 
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Fairmont High School
5419 Old Stage Road
Fairmont, NC 28340
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%
Top Rankings

Purnell Swett High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 1%)

Fairmont High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 1,608 students in grades 9-12, Purnell Swett High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 35-39% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 40% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 17:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black).
Serving 840 students in grades 9-12, Fairmont High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 30-39% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 30% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 17:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
1,608 students
840 students
This chart displays total students of Purnell Swett High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Fairmont High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
49% | 51%
54% | 46%
This chart displays gender of Purnell Swett High School
This chart displays gender of Fairmont High School
Total Classroom Teachers
93 teachers
50 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Purnell Swett High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Fairmont High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Purnell Swett High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Fairmont High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#1843 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Bottom 50%)
#2197 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Purnell Swett High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Fairmont High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
35-39%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
30-39%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
40%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
30%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
34%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
20-24%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
91%
(Top 30% in NC)
80-84%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays graduation rate of Purnell Swett High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Fairmont High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Purnell Swett High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Fairmont High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
499
257
Grade 10 Students
419
202
Grade 11 Students
391
200
Grade 12 Students
299
181

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
80%
24%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Purnell Swett High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Fairmont High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
n/a
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Fairmont High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data.
% Hispanic
4%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Fairmont High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
10%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Fairmont High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
3%
17%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Fairmont High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.35
0.71
This chart displays the diversity score of Purnell Swett High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Fairmont High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
98%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
(13-14 School Year Data)
7%
(13-14 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Purnell Swett High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Fairmont High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
 
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