Schools in Zip Code 27288

ZIP code 27288, serving the Eden, NC area, contains five schools within Rockingham County Schools — three elementary schools (Central Elementary, Leaksville-Spray Elementary, and Douglass Elementary), one middle school (J E Holmes Middle), and one high school (John M Morehead High). These schools enroll roughly 2,653 students, and nearly all students come from low-income households, with free or reduced-price lunch eligibility ranging from about 96% to 99% at every school.

Douglass Elementary is the clear standout in the ZIP code, ranking in the 50th percentile statewide and posting the strongest elementary test scores in the area — averaging 58.9% proficiency on EOG tests. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate among the five schools at 28.2%, and its 4th and 5th grade math and reading scores often beat district and state averages. In contrast, Leaksville-Spray Elementary (21st percentile) and Central Elementary (17th percentile) lag far behind. John M Morehead High posts a solid 89.5% graduation rate, above the state average, but its chronic absenteeism rate of 61.4% is alarmingly high — more than 2.5 times the state rate. J E Holmes Middle ranks in the 23rd percentile and struggles most with 8th grade math, where only 24.7% of students are proficient.

Chronic absenteeism is the biggest district-wide concern, with every school in this ZIP code exceeding the state average of 24.2%. Morehead is the extreme outlier, yet many of its students still manage to graduate, which suggests resilience even amid high disengagement. Leaksville-Spray saw the most dramatic downturn, dropping from the 44th to 21st percentile in a single year. Most schools improved their average proficiency in 2025–26 compared with the prior year, including Morehead (from 32.9% to 47.4%) and Holmes (from 34.3% to 43.2%), but these gains still leave them below state norms. Spending and student–teacher ratios do not clearly explain outcomes: Leaksville-Spray spends the most per student yet performs poorly, while Douglass spends less and achieves more — making Douglass the strongest model for improvement within this high-poverty area.