Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28043

There are three elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in zip code 28043, which covers the Forest City area of North Carolina, and all belong to Rutherford County Schools, a district rated 4 stars. These schools serve similarly high-poverty communities, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility ranging from roughly 96% to 98%, making their differences in performance especially meaningful.

Harris Elementary School is the clear standout. It ranks in the 80th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating and posts the highest average EOG proficiency (about 73.5%) among the three schools, above the district and state averages. Harris also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (21.5%), the lowest student-teacher ratio (16.1), and the lowest per-pupil spending ($9,551). Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is steady, ranking in the 65th percentile for three straight years, with a solid 3rd grade reading score and strong 5th grade science, but only 36.2% of its 5th graders are proficient in reading, about 20 points below district and state averages. Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School is the most concerning: after ranking in the 82nd percentile in 2023-24 and the 76th percentile in 2024-25, it dropped to the 23rd percentile in 2025-26, with average EOG proficiency falling nearly 19 points in one year and scores below both district and state averages in every test category.

The data reveals that chronic absenteeism tracks closely with achievement, as Harris has the best attendance and highest scores, while Forest City-Dunbar has the worst attendance (30.2%) and lowest scores. Higher spending does not guarantee better results either: Forest City-Dunbar spends the most per student ($12,235) yet performs worst, while Harris spends the least and performs best. All three schools face similar poverty levels, so these gaps likely stem from school-level practices, leadership, and instructional focus rather than demographics. For parents, Harris shows that high-poverty schools can succeed, Forrest W. Hunt offers stability but needs attention in upper-grade reading, and Forest City-Dunbar requires urgent review after its rapid decline.