Best High Schools in Zip Code 28144

There are two public high schools in zip code 28144 (Salisbury, NC)—Salisbury High, a traditional 9–12 school with 930 students, and Henderson High, a tiny 6–12 school with only 71 students—both part of the Rowan-Salisbury Schools district and serving predominantly low-income communities in a district ranked in the bottom quintile statewide.

Compared side by side, Salisbury High is the stronger-performing school but still lags far behind state averages. It ranks in the 10th percentile statewide, graduates about 79.5% of its students, and shows chronic absenteeism above 53%. Henderson High is the more extreme outlier: it sits in the 1st percentile, has a graduation rate of just 15.8%, and reports proficiency rates in the single digits on most end-of-course and end-of-grade tests. Notably, Henderson High spends $25,678 per student—more than double Salisbury’s $11,029—yet produces dramatically lower outcomes. That said, Henderson’s very small enrollment means a few students can swing percentages, so its data should be interpreted with caution.

Both schools face urgent challenges around poverty and attendance. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism is roughly double the state average—about half of all students are chronically absent. Test scores are weak across the board, with math especially troubling at Salisbury High: only 18.4% of students are proficient in Math I and 24.6% in Math III, versus state averages of 42.1% and 68.9%. There are some bright spots, though. Salisbury High improved its Biology proficiency from 26.7% to 36.5% in one year and its English II proficiency from 35.7% to 41.8%, showing that progress is possible even in a high-need school. Still, both schools remain well below their own district averages on most measures, and Henderson High is among the lowest-ranked schools in the entire state. For parents, the message is clear: these schools need intensive support in attendance, math instruction, and overall academic recovery to help students reach state benchmarks.