Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28138

Zip code 28138 (Rockwell, NC) is home to two public elementary schools—Rockwell Elementary and Shive Elementary—serving grades PK-5 within Rowan-Salisbury Schools, with no middle or high schools located in the area.

Rockwell Elementary is the clear academic standout. In 2025–26, it ranked in the 68th percentile statewide (3 stars) and improved its rank from the 50th percentile the year before. Rockwell beat the state average in every math grade and in 5th-grade science, with an average math proficiency of 75.5% versus the state's 63.6%. It also showed year-over-year gains in every subject, including a 23.5-point jump in 5th-grade science. Shive Elementary, while ranked lower overall (48th percentile, 2 stars), has an elite 5th-grade science program: 84.5% proficiency, nearly 10 points above Rockwell and almost 17 points above the state average. Shive also made big 3rd-grade gains in reading and math, but its 4th-grade scores dropped sharply, suggesting inconsistent instruction or cohort effects across grade levels.

The biggest difference between these two schools is chronic absenteeism. Rockwell's rate is 20.1%, while Shive's is 40.8%—more than double and far above both the state (24.2%) and district (34.2%) averages. This attendance gap likely drives much of the academic gap, especially since both schools serve nearly identical, almost entirely low-income populations (over 99% free/reduced lunch). Interestingly, Shive actually has a lower student-teacher ratio (14.5 vs. 16.8) and higher per-pupil spending ($11,083 vs. $9,665), yet Rockwell still outperforms it academically, suggesting attendance and school culture matter more than these resources. Both schools outpace their district in nearly every subject and grade, making them bright spots within a district ranked near the bottom of North Carolina. However, since no secondary schools exist in 28138, students must leave the zip code after 5th grade, and sustaining these elementary gains will depend on the quality of their feeder schools.