Schools in Zip Code 28513

Zip code 28513 contains three public schools in Pitt County Schools — Ayden Elementary (PK–5), Ayden Middle (6–8), and Ayden-Grifton High (9–12) — serving about 1,778 students in a high-poverty community where nearly every child qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

Despite these similar economic circumstances, the schools perform very differently. Ayden Elementary is the clear standout: it ranks in the 76th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, and it exceeded state proficiency rates in every subject and grade level tested, from 3rd-grade math to 5th-grade science. Only 16.2% of its students are chronically absent, well below the district and state averages. Ayden Middle sits right around the statewide middle (51st percentile, 3 stars) and improved significantly this year. It posts strong 8th-grade results — 63.3% math proficiency versus 53.0% statewide — but falls short in 6th- and 7th-grade reading. Ayden-Grifton High is the weakest of the three, ranking in the 35th percentile with 2 stars, although its 89.4% graduation rate tops both the district (86.4%) and state (88.8%) averages.

One striking pattern is chronic absenteeism: it jumps from 16.2% at Ayden Elementary to 32.2% at Ayden Middle, meaning nearly one in three middle schoolers misses significant school days; it is 24.7% at Ayden-Grifton High. That likely contributes to the middle school’s mixed academics and may signal future disengagement. Another positive is that all three schools have improved state rankings since 2023-2024 — the elementary went from the 48th to 76th percentile, the middle from 41st to 51st, and the high from 21st to 35th. Also, Ayden-Grifton High spends the most per student ($10,854), while Ayden Elementary spends the least ($9,475) yet gets the best results — a reminder that money alone doesn’t determine outcomes. For parents, the key takeaway is that Ayden Elementary proves strong achievement is possible in a high-poverty school, while the middle and high school show areas of concern worthy of attention.