Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28103

ZIP code 28103 contains two elementary schools — Marshville Elementary and New Salem Elementary — both part of Union County Public Schools, a consistently high-performing North Carolina district ranked 43rd out of 246 districts statewide. Marshville serves grades PK-5 with 419 students, while New Salem serves grades K-5 with 249 students. The two schools present very different demographic profiles: Marshville is a high-poverty school where 98.33% of students receive free/reduced lunch, compared to just 37.75% at New Salem. This contrast makes 28103 a compelling area to compare academic performance across very different economic circumstances.

New Salem Elementary stands out as the consistent high performer. It has ranked in the 81st to 86th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools for three straight years, earned a 4-star rating each year, and posts a 72.0% overall EOG composite. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 10.9% is well below both district and state averages. Marshville Elementary, meanwhile, is the area's most dramatic success story. After ranking near the 50th percentile for two years, it surged to the 72nd percentile in 2025-26 and earned a 4-star rating. This improvement occurred despite nearly 98% economic disadvantage. Marshville's overall composite (69.3%) now sits close to New Salem's, and in math Marshville actually excels, averaging 80.3% proficiency compared to New Salem's 77.0%.

Reading is the area's biggest challenge, particularly at Marshville Elementary, where reading proficiency (57.8%) trails New Salem Elementary (67.4%) by nearly 10 points. Marshville did improve in every subject and grade — third-grade reading jumped 25.2 points — but reading remains its clearest weakness. New Salem's 5th-grade scores dipped after an exceptionally strong prior-year class, a reminder that annual results shift with each cohort. Marshville spends more per pupil ($14,299 vs. $10,320) and has smaller classes (13.3:1 vs. 15.0:1), yet New Salem still ranks higher overall. In short, New Salem offers consistent academic excellence with strong attendance and reading, while Marshville shows remarkable resilience, rapid improvement, and standout math performance. If Marshville can translate its math success to reading, it could close much of the gap with New Salem.