Summary:
ZIP code 28479 serves the Winnabow, NC area with two public schools in Brunswick County Schools: Town Creek Elementary (PK–5, 702 students) and Town Creek Middle (6–8, 540 students). There is no high school in the ZIP, so students leave the area after 8th grade. Both schools serve an extremely high-need population, with about 99% of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch, as well as lower chronic absenteeism than the district or state.
Town Creek Elementary is the clear standout. It has ranked in the 80th–90th percentile statewide for three straight years and currently holds a 4-star rating. In the latest EOG results, it beats both the district and state in every tested grade and subject — a remarkable outcome given its nearly universal poverty rate. For example, 4th grade math proficiency is 75.8% versus 61.4% statewide, and 5th grade math reaches 76.9% versus 62.9%. Reading and 5th grade science are also above average. This consistent excellence makes it a school to investigate for positive instructional supports.
Town Creek Middle is improving but still the weaker link. Its state rank has climbed from the 47th to the 55th percentile over the past few years, with 3 stars in consecutive years. Academic performance generally sits above district averages but close to or below state averages, particularly in 8th grade. The most notable bright spot is 6th grade math at 68.2% proficiency (state: 59.2%), but a sharp slide occurs by 8th grade, where math (51.1%), reading (55.3%), and especially science (63.1%, well below the state's 68.6%) trail expectations. Attendance remains a strength at both schools, but families should monitor the middle school years closely as early academic gains tend to fade.
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