Best Public Schools in Zip Code 27944

ZIP code 27944, serving the Hertford, North Carolina area, contains just two public schools in the Perquimans County Schools district — Hertford Grammar (grades 3–5) and Perquimans County High (grades 9–12) — which together enroll roughly 976 students, all facing extreme economic need, with more than 99% qualifying for free/reduced lunch. The district itself ranks at the 56th percentile statewide with a 3-star rating, but these two schools offer very different experiences for families, and the ZIP code contains no middle school or alternative school, leaving a gap in local data for grades 6–8.

Hertford Grammar is clearly the academic standout, earning a 61st-percentile ranking and a 3-star rating while beating state averages in several subjects despite serving a 99.3% economically disadvantaged population. Its 4th-grade math proficiency reaches 70.1% versus 61.4% statewide, 5th-grade science reaches 74.8% versus 67.7%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 16.6% is well below the 24.2% state average. By contrast, Perquimans County High ranks at the 28th percentile with a 1-star rating and trails the state in every End-of-Course subject, from a 4.3-point gap in Math I and Math III to a 16.2-point gap in Biology. It also struggles with a 25.2% chronic absenteeism rate, though it posts a meaningful bright spot: a 92.5% graduation rate that exceeds the 88.8% state average, suggesting strong persistence supports despite low test proficiency.

Both schools have slipped in statewide rankings over three years — Hertford Grammar dropped from the 70th to the 61st percentile and Perquimans County High dropped from the 36th to the 28th percentile. Notably, the high school spends about $2,927 more per student ($13,229 vs. $10,302) yet produces far weaker results relative to state benchmarks, indicating that spending alone does not drive outcomes here. The missing middle school years may be a critical transition point — students leave a strong elementary school and arrive at a struggling high school, so parents should pay close attention to how their child adjusts during those intermediate grades.