Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28501

Zip code 28501 in Kinston, NC serves approximately 2,756 students across five public schools spanning grades PK-12, all part of Lenoir County Public Schools, a district with a 2-star rating. The five schools – Contentnea-Savannah School (PK-8), Kinston High (9-12), Rochelle Middle (6-8), Northeast Elementary (PK-5), and Southeast Elementary (PK-5) – all serve extremely high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from roughly 97% to 99.6%. Despite these similar demographics, outcomes vary considerably.

Contentnea-Savannah is the clear academic standout. It ranks in the 41st percentile statewide, the highest in this zip code, and is the only school with a 2-star rating. Its state percentile has climbed from 30 to 41 over the past three years, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.9%) of any school in the area – well below the state average of 24.2%. Notably, Contentnea-Savannah outperforms Rochelle Middle in every shared middle-school subject, with especially striking gaps in 8th grade math (31.6% vs. 10.6%) and 8th grade reading (43.2% vs. 30.4%). The other elementary and middle schools rank in the low single digits or teens in statewide percentile, while Kinston High ranks in the 6th percentile. Kinston High does have a strong graduation rate of 91.1%, above the state average, but its End-of-Course test proficiency is very low, including just 6.3% proficiency in Math I.

Several patterns stand out. Middle-school math is a systemic weakness across the zip code, with proficiency collapsing from competitive elementary levels to very low scores by 8th grade and nearly nonexistent results in high school Math I. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at four of the five schools, ranging from 36.9% to 38.9%, far above the state average. Science is a lone bright spot at the elementary level: Contentnea-Savannah (75.3%) and Northeast Elementary (72.3%) both exceed the state average in 5th grade science. Spending and class size do not clearly predict success – Southeast Elementary spends the most per student and has the lowest student-teacher ratio, but still ranks low overall. For parents, Contentnea-Savannah offers the most consistent performance and improving trends, while the other schools face significant challenges, especially in math and attendance.