Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28635

Elementary schools in zip code 28635 consist of a single school, Mountain View Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 in the Hays area under Wilkes County Schools. With 488 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15.3, Mountain View serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 99.39% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this, chronic absenteeism is just 16.5%, matching the district rate of 16.9% and beating the state rate of 24.2%.

Academically, Mountain View Elementary School trails its district and state in most subjects, but it is improving rapidly. Between the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 reporting years, the school improved on every EOG test, with its overall average proficiency rising from 43.2% to 51.8%, outpacing gains made by Wilkes County Schools and North Carolina. The largest gains came in 3rd grade math (+18.9 points), 5th grade reading (+12.5 points), and 3rd grade reading (+11.5 points). In the latest year, 3rd grade math reached 67.2% proficiency, just above the state average. However, math proficiency drops sharply after 3rd grade, falling to 44.6% in 4th grade and 42.3% in 5th grade, leaving the school about 21 points behind district and state averages in 5th grade math. Science is also a concern at 53.8% versus 69.3% in the district, while reading gaps are a more modest 4 to 6 points. The school's state ranking improved from the 21st percentile to the 32nd percentile, though it remains below its 40th-percentile peak from 2023–2024.

For parents in 28635, Mountain View Elementary School is the only public elementary option in the ZIP code, making it central to the Hays community. It belongs to Wilkes County Schools, a 3-star district ranked 89th out of 246 in North Carolina, and spends about $10,717 per pupil. The school's strengths are early-grade math and attendance, while upper-elementary math and 5th grade science are the key areas needing attention. The consistent gains across every subject, combined with low chronic absenteeism, suggest strong school efforts and family engagement. While Mountain View remains below district and state averages in most areas, its positive momentum makes it an encouraging choice for families seeking a school that is steadily improving.