Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28138

Zip code 28138 in Rockwell, NC is home to two public elementary schools — Rockwell Elementary and Shive Elementary — both serving grades PK-5 within the Rowan-Salisbury Schools district. Together these schools educate roughly 915 students, and while the district itself ranks in the bottom quintile of North Carolina districts (199 out of 246), both schools beat district averages by wide margins in nearly every subject and grade level.

Rockwell Elementary is the clear overall standout. It currently ranks 475th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the 68th percentile with a 3-star rating, and its combined EOG proficiency average of 66.9% exceeds the state average of 61.0%. This is particularly impressive given that 99.4% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Rockwell also showed dramatic year-over-year improvement, jumping roughly 11 percentage points in combined proficiency and improving on every single reported test. Shive Elementary, meanwhile, ranks 781st (48th percentile, 2 stars) with a combined proficiency average of 59.4%. While slightly below the state average, that still beats the district average of 46.5%. Shive's standout is 5th grade Science, where 84.5% of students are proficient — nearly 17 points above the state average and the highest single subject score between the two schools.

The clearest separating factor is chronic absenteeism: Rockwell's rate is 20.1%, below the state average of 24.2%, while Shive's is 40.8% — more than double Rockwell's. This is notable because both schools serve nearly identical poverty levels (about 99% free/reduced lunch eligibility). Interestingly, Shive spends more per student ($11,083 vs. $9,665) and has a smaller student-teacher ratio (14.5 vs. 16.8), yet Rockwell has stronger academic outcomes. Reading is the relative weakness at both schools, with averages near the state mark, while math is a particular strength at Rockwell (75.5% combined). For families, both schools are beating their district odds, but Rockwell currently offers the stronger academic trajectory.