Best High Schools in Zip Code 28312

ZIP code 28312 in Fayetteville, North Carolina is home to one public high school, Cape Fear High, which serves students in grades 9 through 12 within Cumberland County Schools. Cape Fear High enrolls roughly 1,515 students and has earned a consistent 3-star state rating over the last three recorded school years, ranking between the 58th and 64th percentile of North Carolina high schools. The school stands out most clearly in mathematics, outperforming both its district and the state by wide margins, and its graduation rate of 90.7% exceeds the district rate of 88.7% and the state rate of 88.8%.

Looking at the most recent End-of-Course tests, Cape Fear High’s math proficiency is particularly striking. In Math III, 77.8% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, well above the state rate of 68.9%, while Math I proficiency reached 54.6% compared to the state’s 42.1%. English II also exceeds district and state averages, with 66.8% proficient versus 63.0% in the district and 64.6% statewide. The one weaker subject is Biology, where proficiency fell to 56.3% in 2025-2026, slightly below the district (58.8%) and state (58.5%) levels after being above both in the prior year. These academics come from a school where 55.12% of students receive free or reduced lunch, making the math results especially notable.

The biggest concern for Cape Fear High is chronic absenteeism. In 2024-2025, a striking 47.0% of students were chronically absent, compared to 33.7% for the district and 24.2% statewide. Even with nearly half of students missing significant school time, the school maintains above-average graduation and math scores, suggesting that reducing absenteeism could lead to even stronger outcomes. Cape Fear High also punches above its district’s overall standing, as Cumberland County Schools rates only 2 stars while the school holds 3 stars. For parents, this is a school with clear academic strengths in math and a solid graduation rate, but persistent attendance issues remain the key barrier to unlocking its full potential.