Best High Schools in Zip Code 28532

ZIP code 28532, serving the Havelock, NC area, is home to two traditional public high schools, Havelock High and Early College EAST High, both part of the Craven County Board of Education, yet they offer strikingly different academic profiles for families to consider.

Early College EAST High is the clear academic standout in the area. It enrolls about 208 students and ranks in the 79th percentile of North Carolina high schools with a 4-star rating. Its graduation rate is 94.3%, chronic absenteeism is just 10.0%, and End-of-Course proficiency rates are dramatically above state averages in nearly every subject—91.5% in English II and 95.7% in Math III. The school also boasts a lower share of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch at 27.4%. In contrast, Havelock High is a much larger comprehensive school with 1,014 students, a 2-star rating, and a state rank in the 36th percentile. While its graduation rate is a solid 90.2% and chronic absenteeism is better than state averages, its test scores lag considerably—especially in Math I, where only 25.6% of students are proficient compared to the state’s 42.1%. Havelock High also serves a more economically diverse student body, with 52.5% eligible for free/reduced-price lunch.

Both schools have seen their state rankings slip over the past few years, and a notable finding is that Havelock High actually spends more per student ($9,356 vs. $7,531) despite lower academic outcomes. Math remains the biggest challenge across the area, though Early College EAST High remains exceptionally strong in English and advanced math. Parents in ZIP code 28532 will find one highly selective-style early college option and one traditional neighborhood high school, with the biggest gaps appearing in poverty rates, math proficiency, and overall school ranking.