Best High Schools in Zip Code 27835

Zip code 27835 is home to one high school in the Winterville, North Carolina area: PCS Early College High School, a 9–12 campus in the Pitt County Schools district serving 334 students.

PCS Early College High School is an exceptional standout, ranking among the very best high schools in North Carolina. The school has earned a 5-star rating for three consecutive years while climbing from #31 in the state (2023–2024) to #24 (2024–2025) and now #15 (2025–2026), placing it in the 98th percentile statewide. Academic proficiency on End-of-Course tests is outstanding across every subject. In 2025–2026, proficiency rates reached 98.6% in Biology, 97.4% in English II, 95.6% in Math I, and 98.3% in Math III — exceeding district averages by roughly 20 to 45 percentage points and state averages by even wider margins in some subjects. The previous year was similarly strong, with a perfect 100% proficiency rate in English II and rates above 94% in all other tested areas. The school's graduation rate of 94.2% also outpaces both the district (86.4%) and the state (88.8%).

What makes this performance especially notable is the student population. Nearly every student at the school (99.1%) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school achieves results typically associated with selective or specialized programs. The early college model appears to be a powerful factor, giving students clear academic pathways and college credit opportunities. Chronic absenteeism is also remarkably low at 6.2%, well below recent district (21.7%) and state (24.2%) figures, indicating strong engagement. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.3 students per teacher, which is moderately high, but it has not hindered academic outcomes. In a district where most high schools post proficiency rates well below state averages, PCS Early College High School is a clear outlier — a high-poverty school delivering elite, sustained academic results and serving as one of the top-performing high schools in North Carolina.