Summary:
Zip code 27356, serving the Star, North Carolina area, contains exactly one school: Star Elementary, a public elementary school in Montgomery County Schools serving grades PK through 5 with 272 students, meaning families in this rural zip code have no middle or high school options within their immediate area.
Because it is the only school in the zip code, Star Elementary is automatically the standout, and the data shows why it is worth attention. The school serves a very high-poverty population, with 98.9% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, yet it outperforms its own district in every tested subject and grade level with available data. In the 2025-2026 school year, 4th-grade reading proficiency reached 69.8% compared to the district's 42.9%, and 4th-grade math hit 65.1% versus the district's 42.1%. Even as Montgomery County Schools ranks in the 21st percentile statewide, Star Elementary has ranked between the 52nd and 68th percentile among North Carolina elementary schools over the past three years, earning 3 out of 5 stars each year.
Star also compares favorably to the state in several areas despite its high poverty rate, matching or exceeding North Carolina in 3rd-grade math and beating the state in 4th-grade math and reading in 2025-2026. Chronic absenteeism is lower than both district and state averages at 19.9% versus 24.8% and 24.2%, respectively, which may support its academic performance. However, reading is a relative weakness in 3rd and 5th grades, and 5th-grade science trails the state by over 10 points. Year-over-year results are mixed, with 3rd-grade math dropping from 75.6% to 66.0% while 4th-grade reading improved from 63.6% to 69.8%. Overall, Star Elementary is a high-poverty school doing something right, consistently outpacing its district while showing room for growth in reading and science.
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