Best High Schools in Zip Code 28340

ZIP code 28340, serving the Fairmont area in Robeson County, North Carolina, is home to just one high school, Fairmont High, which serves grades 9 through 12 with an enrollment of 780 students. For parents exploring this area, Fairmont High is a school on a clear upward trajectory, having improved its state ranking from the 6th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 34th percentile in 2025–2026, while also earning a two-star rating after previously holding zero stars. The school’s biggest recent gains are in mathematics, with Math I proficiency at 53.8% and Math III at 76.8% in 2025–2026—both figures surpassing the state averages of 42.1% and 68.9%, respectively. This is an especially notable achievement given that 99.62% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Fairmont High still faces challenges that parents should consider. Chronic absenteeism affects 48.8% of students—more than double the state rate of 24.2%—and the graduation rate of 84.6% trails both the Public Schools of Robeson County district average (89.2%) and the state average (88.8%). Academic proficiency in English II is 43.4%, well below the state’s 64.6%, and Biology proficiency is 38.3% versus a 58.5% state average. Impressively, the school has shown substantial year-over-year improvement in Biology (14.7% to 38.3%) and Math I (25.9% to 53.8%), indicating that teaching strategies and student performance are heading in the right direction.

For families in this ZIP code, the lack of school choice means Fairmont High is the sole destination for high school students. While the school’s overall academic standing remains below the state median, its rapid gains in math and recently improved state rating are encouraging signs. Per-student spending is $12,871. Reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening literacy and science instruction will be crucial for maintaining momentum. Parents can feel cautiously optimistic: Fairmont High is demonstrating that significant progress is possible even in a high-poverty environment.