Well, Mr/Mrs. Far Away Native - it's pretty obvious that it's easier for you to judge the condition of this school from a distance rather than visit it yourself. I graduated from this school years ago and was shocked when I moved back into the area and sent my child there. I had never seen such disrespect and blatant rudeness in my life. Most of the kids seem to have no home training and the staff seems to be afraid of them. My daughter came home every week with stories about kids slapping teachers, sex acts in the restrooms and on the bus, fights, and the list goes on. My child was an A student when she arrived and barely making C's when she left this past year. I'm doing everything I can to make sure my next child has another option than Shallotte Middle for next school year. Spend some time at this school - you'll have to have a heart of stone to come away unchanged.