Shaw Academy

Located at 18700 Old Wire Road, in Laurinburg, North Carolina, Shaw Academy is a tiny four-year high school that hosts 122 students (grades 6 through 12), one of the schools within Scotland County Schools. Compared to the state average of about 761 students per school, that is 84% below typical.

Shaw Academy is one of 10 schools operated by Scotland County Schools, a district that educates 5,416 students overall.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Shaw Academy shows that 75% of the student body identifies as Black; the rest is composed of 12% White, 8% Native American, 2% multiracial. That is considerably more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 37%.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Shaw Academy has 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 10.6:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 19.6:1 average. Around 98% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Scotland County) records that median household earnings sit near $45,730, roughly 17% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 22%. Across Scotland County's 10 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,416 students), Shaw Academy is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Spring Hill Middle, roughly 2.3 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 2 other public schools cluster around Shaw Academy.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged up 213%: 39 students in 2018 compared to 122 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio rose from 3.7:1 in 2018 to 10.6:1 today.

On the community side, the feed for Shaw Academy typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.