Schools in Zip Code 27104

ZIP code 27104 in Winston-Salem, NC, is served by five traditional public schools in the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district — three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school — enrolling about 3,861 students across a wide range of economic backgrounds. The district itself ranks in the 35th percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, but the schools within this ZIP code vary dramatically. Whitaker Elementary is the clear standout: it ranks in the 89th percentile with a 4-star rating, posts a 78% average proficiency rate, has only 9% chronic absenteeism, and serves a student body where just one in four qualifies for free/reduced lunch. By contrast, South Fork Elementary ranks in the 7th percentile with a 0-star rating and a 39.5% average proficiency rate, even though it spends the most per student and has the lowest student-teacher ratio in the group.

Four of the five schools serve student populations that are almost entirely economically disadvantaged, with free/reduced lunch rates near 99%. That includes R J Reynolds High, which faces the most serious attendance challenge — 54% chronic absenteeism, well above the state's 24% — and its graduation rate of 82.8% falls below both district and state averages. Wiley Magnet Middle is improving across every subject compared to last year, climbing from the 16th to the 26th percentile, but still remains below state proficiency averages. Brunson Elementary is the bright spot among high-poverty schools: despite a 99% free/reduced lunch rate, it ranks in the 42nd percentile and actually beats district and state averages in several 5th-grade subjects.

The pattern across this ZIP code is consistent: schools with lower poverty and better attendance show far stronger academic results. Whitaker's success stands apart from the other four schools, and the contrast with South Fork — both elementary schools in the same district — is especially stark. At the same time, the data shows that high-poverty schools are not all the same: Brunson clearly outperforms South Fork and Wiley, while Wiley is trending upward. For parents, the most important takeaway is to look beyond ZIP code boundaries. Even within 27104, a child's school assignment can mean the difference between a top-quartile education and one that is struggling to overcome high absenteeism, poverty, and low test scores.