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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28168

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

Schools

977

Students

Districts

Top rankedUnion Elementary356^th of 1,490 North Carolina elementary schools

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Summary:

The 28168 zip code area is home to three elementary schools: North Brook Elementary, Union Elementary, and Banoak Elementary. These schools serve students in grades K-5 and are located within the Lincoln County Schools and Catawba County Schools districts.

Among the standout schools in this area, Union Elementary stands out, ranking 200 out of 1,505 North Carolina elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school consistently performs well, with 3rd-5th grade math proficiency rates above the Lincoln County and state averages, and an impressive 5th grade science proficiency rate of 84.1%. North Brook Elementary also demonstrates solid academic performance, with 3rd-5th grade math proficiency rates above the district and state averages, and a particularly strong 4th grade math proficiency rate of 82.7%.

While the schools in this area serve predominantly low-income student populations, with free/reduced lunch rates exceeding 98% at North Brook Elementary and Union Elementary, they have managed to maintain strong academic outcomes. The relatively small size of the schools, with enrollments ranging from 271 to 351 students, may contribute to their ability to provide personalized attention and support to their students. Overall, the data suggests that the elementary schools in the 28168 zip code area are performing well, with Union Elementary and North Brook Elementary emerging as the standout institutions in the region.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)				EOG Reading (2025)				EOG Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Banoak Elementary	Public	K-6	7651 W NC 10 Hwy	Vale	28168	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 462-2849	291	17	16.6	99.0%	230 (79.0%)	5 (1.7%)	25 (8.6%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.6%)	65	485^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.4%		69.2	421^st of 1505 public elementary schools	72.0%	64	71.2	61.0	63.6	61.5	57.7	56.1	54.5	59.6	70.5	$9,603	$1,411	$8,191
Union Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4875 Reepsville Rd	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 276-1493	342	22	15.2	99.1%	310 (90.6%)	2 (0.6%)	15 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.1%)	72.4	356^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.1%		83.2	200^th of 1505 public elementary schools	86.7%	156	73.8	77.1	74.6		43.1	62.5	62.7		76.3	$10,166	$909	$9,257
North Brook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	642 Hwy 274	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 276-2479	344	24	14.5	99.1%	296 (86.0%)	6 (1.7%)	23 (6.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.7%)	63.1	510^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.8%		64.5	495^th of 1505 public elementary schools	67.1%	15	68.4	80.0	73.6		45.6	42.2	54.7		73.6	$9,492	$999	$8,493

Cities Near Zip Code 28168

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Lincolnton	1.57 mi	14	255^th
Vale	2.19 mi	3	105^th
Fallston	6.7 mi	1	208^th
Cherryville	7.52 mi	4	268^th
Lawndale	8.37 mi	2	275^th

See the top NC North Carolina cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.