Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28390

ZIP code 28390, serving the Spring Lake area of North Carolina, contains 7 schools: 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, with a total enrollment of about 5,226 students across three administrative settings: Harnett County Schools, Cumberland County Schools, and the charter district Anderson Creek Academy. The schools range dramatically in performance, from a top-tier charter to several high-poverty public schools that struggle to meet state averages.

The clear academic standout is Anderson Creek Academy, an elementary charter ranked in the 94th percentile statewide with subject proficiency rates 20 to 30 points above state averages and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the ZIP. Among traditional public schools, Overhills Elementary is the strongest, ranking in the 57th percentile and outperforming its district on every test subject. Overhills High, the only high school, improved sharply in all End-of-Course subjects year over year, though it still trails state averages. At the other end, William T Brown Elementary and Spring Lake Middle rank in the bottom quarter of the state, with proficiency rates far below district and state norms.

Chronic absenteeism is a major concern: William T Brown Elementary and Spring Lake Middle report rates near 46%, nearly double the state rate, while Manchester Elementary stands out as a positive exception—despite very high poverty, it improved to the 33rd percentile with strong 4th-grade reading. Middle-school math is the weakest subject area across both Overhills Middle and Spring Lake Middle, with 8th-grade math proficiency near 30% versus 53% statewide. Overhills schools in Harnett County Schools generally perform better than the higher-poverty Cumberland County schools, and several schools are on upward trends—offering hope even where gaps remain.