Summary:
There is just one school in ZIP 28431: Chadbourn Elementary, a PK-5 elementary school serving 233 students as part of Columbus County Schools. Since there are no middle schools or high schools in this ZIP code, families will need to look beyond Chadbourn for upper-grade options. The school serves an overwhelmingly high-poverty population, with nearly 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 43% - well above the district's 29.3% and the state's 24.2%.
On academic performance, Chadbourn Elementary generally outpaces its district while trailing the state. Averaging the 2025-2026 EOG scores, the school posted 52.1% proficiency versus 48.0% for Columbus County Schools and 61.0% for North Carolina. The school is consistently stronger in math than reading: 3rd grade math hit 75% proficiency, and both 5th grade math and science reached 64.3%, well ahead of district averages. In contrast, reading is the weakest area, with 4th grade reading at just 24.4% proficiency. However, grade-level scores are volatile from year to year due to small cohorts, making it important to look at multi-year trends.
There are reasons to be encouraged as well. Despite near-universal poverty, the school has produced state-beating math results in several grades, showing what is possible when conditions align. The school has held a 2-star rating for three consecutive years, though its statewide rank slipped slightly in the most recent year. For parents, the key takeaway is that Chadbourn Elementary offers bright spots in math and science but has urgent work to do in reading and attendance.
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