Summary:
ZIP code 28137 has just one elementary school: Richfield Elementary, a K–5 campus of 302 students in Richfield, North Carolina, belonging to Stanly County Schools. Since no other elementary schools in the ZIP code exist for comparison, the most useful frame of reference is how Richfield Elementary performs against its own district and the state.
Richfield Elementary is notable for its recent academic climb. The school moved from the 58th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools in 2023–2024 to the 84th percentile (a 4-star rating) in 2025–2026, now ranking 232nd out of 1,492 schools. In the most recent testing year, it beat the district and state in all seven tested grade-and-subject combinations, including 3rd-grade math (91.1% proficient vs. 66.4% statewide) and 3rd-grade reading (73.3% vs. 55.6% statewide). This is especially impressive given that more than 99% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 15.4%, which is lower than the district's 19.7% and the state's 24.2%, and it has a favorable 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Parents should keep in mind that single-year proficiency numbers can bounce around at a school of this size; for example, 3rd-grade reading jumped by nearly 30 points in a year while 4th-grade scores dipped somewhat. Overall, though, Richfield Elementary stands out as a strong school that is beating expectations on both academic and attendance measures.
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