Best Public Schools in Zip Code 27127

ZIP code 27127 in Winston-Salem is served by 12 schools — five elementary, three middle, two high, and two alternative programs spanning grades K-12 — enrolling about 7,200 students, from 1,569 at Parkland High down to just 9 at Kingswood School. Most belong to Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, though Friedberg Elementary sits in Davidson County Schools and Carter G. Woodson School operates as its own district. The area is marked by concentrated poverty: 10 of 12 schools have free/reduced lunch rates above 95 percent, and chronic absenteeism tops the state's 24.2 percent rate in nearly every school.

Clemmons Middle School is the academic standout, ranking in the 65th percentile statewide despite a 98.35 percent free/reduced lunch rate. Friedberg Elementary is the economic outlier — just 45.73 percent free/reduced lunch and only 5.7 percent chronic absenteeism — and its 5th grade science proficiency reached 77.1 percent. Elsewhere, Parkland High sits in the 7th percentile with a 79.1 percent graduation rate, while Flat Rock Middle and Konnoak Middle School rank in the 7th and 3rd percentiles, with 8th grade math proficiency below 17 percent. Main Street Academy and Kingswood School are specialized, high-cost settings exceeding $36,000 per pupil and should not be compared with traditional schools.

School experiences vary enormously within this ZIP code. Clemmons Middle School proves that high poverty does not have to produce low achievement, while Friedberg Elementary's attendance and demographic advantages likely contribute to its stronger results. By contrast, Ward Elementary shows students losing significant ground between 3rd and 5th grade, and the middle school gap is enormous. Families seeking strong academics will find the best numbers at Friedberg Elementary and Clemmons Middle; Parkland High, Flat Rock Middle, and Konnoak Middle School face serious absenteeism and proficiency challenges that warrant close attention.