Summary:
ZIP code 28504 contains six schools within Lenoir County Public Schools—four elementary schools, one middle school, and one alternative school serving PK-12—enrolling roughly 2,179 students in an area where nearly every child (95% to 99%) comes from a low-income household. While the district itself holds only a 2-star rating, ranking in the 34th percentile statewide, the schools inside this ZIP code tell a far more encouraging story.
Moss Hill Elementary is the clear academic leader, earning a 4-star rating three years in a row and ranking in the 83rd percentile. Its 4th-grade math proficiency rate of 89.8% towers over the district's 51.0% and the state's 61.4%. Woodington Middle, the only traditional middle school in the ZIP, jumped from the 38th to 54th percentile in one year, and now meets or exceeds state averages in 6th-grade reading, 7th-grade math, and 8th-grade science. Banks Elementary (65th percentile) and Northwest Elementary (52nd percentile) are also solidly mid-pack or better, while Southwood Elementary made a dramatic turnaround from the 26th to 50th percentile in a single year.
Science is an area-wide strength: every traditional school with science data beat the state average, led by Northwest at 86.5% proficiency. Reading is the biggest vulnerability, with 3rd-grade reading at Northwest (44.0%) and 4th-grade reading at Southwood (44.4%) well below state averages. There is no traditional high school in the ZIP—the only high-school setting is Lenoir County Learning Academy, an alternative school with high chronic absenteeism and intensive resources. Notably, higher spending and smaller classes at Southwood ($10,722 per pupil, 11.4:1 ratio) have not translated into higher rankings than Moss Hill, suggesting school success here comes down to factors beyond funding. For parents, this ZIP offers elementary options that largely outperform expectations given their poverty levels.
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