Best High Schools in Zip Code 27889

Zip code 27889 in the Washington, NC area is home to two public high schools—Washington High, enrolling 794 students in grades 9-12, and Beaufort County Early College High, enrolling 280 students in grades 9-12—both administered by Beaufort County Schools, a district ranked 61st statewide with a 3-star rating. The two schools share a similar challenge: nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch (99.62% at Washington High and 98.93% at Beaufort County Early College High). Yet their academic outcomes could not be more different, making this an especially valuable comparison for parents.

Beaufort County Early College High is a standout school, ranking 35th out of 662 North Carolina high schools (95th percentile) with a 5-star rating in 2025-2026. Its students post remarkable proficiency rates well above state averages: 95.3% in Biology, 97.1% in English II, 92.6% in Math I, and 98.7% in Math III. Washington High, on the other hand, ranks 573rd out of 662 (13th percentile) with a 1-star rating. Only 45.3% of its students are proficient in Biology, 40.8% in English II, 23.2% in Math I, and 34.3% in Math III—all below state and district averages. The proficiency gap between the two schools is enormous, reaching 69.4 percentage points in Math I alone.

Chronic absenteeism is a clear differentiator: 34.0% of Washington High students are chronically absent compared to just 9.2% at Beaufort County Early College High, and Washington High's 86.0% graduation rate trails the district (88.5%) and state (88.8%). Interestingly, Beaufort County Early College High spends less per student ($6,887 vs. $10,213) and reports a higher student-teacher ratio (44.5 vs. 22.0), though early college programs typically leverage college faculty and selective admissions. The district's 3-star rating hides a striking divide, with one school in the top 5% of the state and another in the bottom 15%. High-poverty students can achieve at exceptional levels when the right structure and expectations are in place, while Washington High clearly needs additional support around attendance and math.