Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28040

ZIP code 28040 is served by a single elementary school, Ellenboro Elementary School, which enrolls students in grades PK through 5 and belongs to Rutherford County Schools. With only one school in the area, this analysis focuses entirely on Ellenboro Elementary and compares its performance to its district and to North Carolina state averages. Ellenboro is a high-poverty school, with over 97% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet it consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in North Carolina, earning a 4-star rating and placing in the 87th percentile statewide for the 2025–2026 school year. Its state ranking has remained strong over the past three years, ranging from the 83rd to 89th percentile.

Academically, Ellenboro Elementary outperforms both its district and the state by substantial margins. Averaging all end-of-grade test results in math, reading, and science, Ellenboro reached 77.1% proficiency in 2025–2026, compared to 68.3% for the district and 61.0% for the state. Math is the school’s clearest strength: proficiency averages 84.5%, roughly 20 percentage points above the state, with every grade level scoring far above expectations. Science is also a standout, with 5th grade proficiency reaching 83.3% in 2025–2026, up from 78.9% the previous year and well above the state average of 67.7%. Reading is broadly above average, though more variable by grade. Fourth grade reading is excellent at 80% proficient, while 3rd grade reading dipped to 62.6%, below the district’s 66.6% but still above the state’s 55.6%. This grade-level variation in early literacy suggests a targeted area for improvement.

Ellenboro’s chronic absenteeism rate is 26.7%, which is dramatically better than the district’s 38.1% but still slightly above the state average of 24.2%. The school’s student–teacher ratio is 18.7, suggesting relatively large class sizes, yet academic results remain strong despite economic challenges. Overall, Ellenboro Elementary demonstrates that a high-poverty school can achieve exceptional outcomes. Its consistent 4-star ranking, outstanding math and science performance, and strong district-relative reading results make it the clear educational cornerstone for ZIP code 28040. The main opportunities for growth are raising 3rd grade reading proficiency and reducing chronic absenteeism further, but the school currently stands out as a remarkably effective elementary school in North Carolina.