Best High Schools in Zip Code 28173

ZIP code 28173 (Waxhaw, NC) contains three public schools serving high school grades: Marvin Ridge High and Cuthbertson High are traditional 9–12 schools, while South Providence is a tiny 6–12 alternative school, all part of Union County Public Schools. Marvin Ridge High is the clear standout, ranking in the 93rd–94th percentile statewide with five stars and near-universal proficiency: English II (97.9%), Math III (97.3%), Biology (91.6%), and Math I (87.9%). Cuthbertson High is also strong and stable, ranking in the 85th percentile (four stars) for three consecutive years and beating district and state averages in all subjects. Its only weak point is Math I at 69.4%, far below its own Math III result (90.4%) and Marvin Ridge’s Math I rate.

The contrast with South Providence is dramatic. South Providence enrolls 91 students, has a 96.7% free/reduced-lunch rate, and spends $32,317 per student—roughly 4.5 times more than the other two schools—with a 4.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Yet its outcomes are extremely low: a 14.8% graduation rate, 9.1% English II proficiency, and a 50.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Marvin Ridge and Cuthbertson, by comparison, have absenteeism rates of 5.4% and 8.4%. Over half of South Providence students are chronically absent, undermining academic progress despite the large per-student investment.

For parents, the two traditional high schools both outperform their already-strong district, which ranks 43rd in North Carolina. Marvin Ridge High, with a 4.28% free/reduced lunch rate, is one of the state’s elite high schools, exceeding district proficiency by 20–29 percentage points. Cuthbertson High, with a 10.23% free/reduced lunch rate, is a reliable choice that shines in English II (93.2%) and Biology (84.4%) but may need attention in Math I. South Providence serves a profoundly different, high-need population with grades 6–12; its low performance and graduation rate signal urgent challenges that require comprehensive support. In short, a single ZIP code contains two very successful traditional high schools and one high-cost, high-need alternative school—demonstrating that school mission and attendance boundaries matter more than geography alone.