Summary:
Zip code 28574 in Richlands, North Carolina is served by two public elementary schools – Richlands Elementary and Heritage Elementary School – both part of Onslow County Schools and both serving grades K-5 with enrollments of roughly 590 and 565 students respectively.
In the most recent rankings, Heritage Elementary School is the steadier performer, ranking 907th in the state and earning a 2-star rating, while Richlands Elementary ranks 971st. Heritage posts slightly better overall EOG proficiency (54.8% vs. 53.2%) and notably stronger math and science averages, including a 58.0% math average and 64.2% science proficiency. Richlands had the higher peak in 2024-2025, earning a 3-star rating with strong math scores, but it dropped sharply in the latest year. Both schools trail district and state averages in most subjects, with reading as the clearest shared weakness – Richlands’ reading average sits at 50.4% and Heritage’s at 48.5%, compared to the state’s 56.2%. Heritage shows genuine strength in early-grade math, with 3rd grade proficiency far above district and state levels in two consecutive years. Richlands saw a dramatic 16.4-point collapse in 4th grade math from one year to the next, while Heritage improved in upper-grade math over the same period.
Demographically, the two schools serve similar populations, with about half of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (49.75% at Richlands, 52.92% at Heritage). Chronic absenteeism runs slightly below district and state averages at both schools, though still affects roughly one in five students. Student-teacher ratios are nearly identical (14.4 vs. 14.1), while Heritage’s per-student spending is somewhat higher at $9,000 compared to Richlands’ $8,461. Both schools improved significantly in 5th grade science, with Heritage leading the way, yet both remain behind district and state science averages. For parents, Heritage is currently the more consistent choice overall, while Richlands demonstrates a higher ceiling but greater year-to-year volatility, particularly in math.
Thank you for your feedback!