Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28384

ZIP code 28384, serving the Saint Pauls area of North Carolina, is home to three public schools within the Public Schools of Robeson County that together educate roughly 2,530 students across the full K-12 spectrum: Saint Pauls Elementary (grades PK–4), Saint Pauls Middle (grades 5–8), and Saint Pauls High (grades 9–12).

One of the most important context points for parents is that this is an exceptionally high-poverty cluster: more than 99.5% of students at every school qualify for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism runs from 30.8% at the elementary level to 35.9% at the high school — elevated versus the 24.2% state average, though notably better than the district’s 42.1% rate. Comparing the three schools, Saint Pauls High is the relative standout, ranked in the 32nd percentile statewide with a strong 94.3% graduation rate that beats both the district and state. It also posts a solid Math III proficiency of 67.3%, nearly matching the state’s 68.9%. However, its Math I proficiency collapsed to just 12.5% in 2025-26 — a 30-point drop from the prior year and a glaring 35-point deficit versus the district. Meanwhile, Saint Pauls Elementary showed real momentum, improving in every tested subject, including a dramatic jump in 3rd grade reading from 19.5% to 36.4%, yet it remains in the bottom 8% of North Carolina elementary schools.

The most concerning profile belongs to Saint Pauls Middle, which ranks in the 4th percentile statewide and is trending downward. Its 8th grade math proficiency stands at just 11.7% versus 53.0% statewide, and 5th grade math is only 18.9% compared to 62.9% statewide. Even the high school’s bright spots are tempered by a clear pipeline problem: students arrive at middle school already behind in math, fall further behind by 8th grade, and then struggle with the Math I gateway course in high school. For parents, the single most actionable takeaway is that math achievement is the dominant weakness across all grade levels in Saint Pauls, making early and sustained math support the most important factor for improving outcomes from elementary through graduation.