Summary:
ZIP code 27521 contains exactly one public school: Coats Elementary, an elementary school serving grades PK–5 within Harnett County Schools.
Coats Elementary is the only option in this area, so families comparing schools must look beyond the ZIP code. The school enrolls 633 students and serves a profoundly high-poverty population, with nearly 97% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. That economic context matters because the school’s academic performance trails district and state averages by a wide margin on every End-of-Grade test. Averaging the seven reported proficiency rates shows roughly 35.7% of Coats students are proficient, compared with about 53.6% for the district and 61.0% statewide. The largest gaps appear in 3rd-grade reading (28.3% proficient vs. 55.6% statewide) and 5th-grade science (34.1% proficient vs. 67.7% statewide). Math is relatively stronger internally, but still far behind. The school’s statewide ranking has fallen sharply over three years, from the 11th percentile in 2023–24 to the 4th percentile in 2025–26. A troubling sign is that math scores improved modestly while the school’s relative standing dropped, because district and state gains were much faster.
On a more positive note, chronic absenteeism at Coats Elementary is 23.1% — lower than the district rate of 26.9% and slightly lower than the state’s 24.2%. This suggests attendance may not be as severe a barrier as in other high-poverty schools. However, the school received zero stars in the latest SchoolDigger rating, and its academic profile remains a major concern for parents. With no middle or high schools inside the ZIP code, families will need to explore schools outside 27521 for later grades. Note that the only per-pupil spending figure available is $9,628 from 2018–19, which is outdated and should not be used to judge current funding. For parents, the key takeaway is that Coats Elementary faces significant academic challenges, particularly in early reading and science, though its attendance record offers a small bright spot.
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