Best High Schools in Zip Code 27018

ZIP code 27018 is served by a single high school, Forbush High in East Bend, NC, which enrolls 787 students in grades 9–12 within Yadkin County Schools; because there is no other high school in the area for comparison, the best context comes from district and state averages. Forbush High shows a mixed performance profile. The school is at or near the state average in Math III (69.1% proficient vs. 68.9% statewide) and in its graduation rate (88.9% vs. 88.8% statewide), while English II proficiency (58.1%) actually edges out the district average (57.5%). However, Biology proficiency is a serious weak spot at just 37.0% — a 21.5-point gap from the state’s 58.5% — and Math I proficiency (40.7%) trails the state by 1.4 points.

The most glaring concern is chronic absenteeism. At Forbush High, 33.9% of students are chronically absent, compared with 22.3% for the district and 24.2% for the state. This is the largest discrepancy in the data set and likely contributes to academic struggles. More than half of the student body (54.8%) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school still manages to match state averages in several subjects and in graduation. That said, the school’s state ranking has slipped from the 46th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 34th percentile in 2025-2026, even though some test scores improved. For example, English II proficiency jumped 12.5 points from the prior year, and Math I, Biology, and Math III all showed modest gains.

For parents, the picture is one of a school that is close to state norms in some areas but far behind in Biology and attendance. The improving test scores are encouraging, but the rising chronic absenteeism rate and declining statewide percentile suggest Forbush High is not keeping pace with gains made by other North Carolina schools. The strongest actionable takeaway is the need to address attendance, particularly since about one in three students is chronically absent. With stronger attendance, the school’s academic results — especially in science — could likely improve. Overall, Forbush High offers a solid graduation rate and competitive math performance, but families should be aware of the attendance and science challenges when evaluating the school.