Summary:
Zip code 28135 contains one high school: Anson County Early College High, a small public school in Polkton, NC, serving grades 9–12 with 210 students. Because it is the only high school in the area, there are no local schools to compare it to, but the data reveals a school that stands out academically while facing significant challenges tied to poverty and attendance.
Anson County Early College High ranks in the 62nd percentile statewide (253 of 662 high schools, 3 stars), which is especially notable given that its district, Anson County Schools, ranks in the bottom quarter of North Carolina districts. The school outperformed its district in every End-of-Course subject reported and beat the state in seven of eight subject/year comparisons. Most impressively, it achieved these results while serving an exceptionally high-poverty student body: 98.57% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. English II is a clear strength, with proficiency around 74–78%, well above both district and state averages. The graduation rate of 90.2% also suggests students are finishing high school at a strong pace.
There are some caution signs to monitor. Math III proficiency fell sharply from 88.6% in 2024–25 to 66.0% in 2025–26, dropping below the state average and likely contributing to the school’s state rank slipping from 150th to 253rd. Chronic absenteeism, at 27.6%, is above the state rate of 24.2%, though far below the district’s 42.0%. With a student-teacher ratio of 21.4, the school is not unusually small in class size, but its early college structure and focused academics appear to be working. Overall, Anson County Early College High is a high-performing, high-poverty school that carries the academic reputation of its zip code well, with attendance and recent math declines worth watching.
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