Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28636

ZIP code 28636 serves the Hiddenite, NC area and contains 2 public schools from Alexander County Schools: Hiddenite Elementary (PK–5) and East Alexander Middle (6–8), with no high school located inside the ZIP code. Both schools serve exceptionally high-poverty populations—over 98% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—and the district is rated 128th out of 246 in North Carolina, at the 48th percentile with a 2-star rating.

East Alexander Middle is the higher-ranked school, placing in the 50th percentile statewide (388 of 778 middle schools) with a 3-star rating. It performs close to state averages in math and reading, with standout 7th grade results: 63.3% proficiency in reading and 60.6% in math, both above the state. However, its 8th grade math and science scores fall below district and state levels. Hiddenite Elementary ranks lower (38th percentile, 919 of 1,492) but shows a positive trend in statewide rank over recent years. Its biggest academic highlight is 5th grade science at 80% proficiency—far above the district (65.5%) and state (67.7%). Overall, Hiddenite trails the state in elementary math and reading, with average proficiency around 50% or below in those subjects.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern at East Alexander Middle, where 26.3% of students miss too much school, above the state rate of 24.2% and far above the district average of 17.4%. Hiddenite Elementary has a much lower rate at 18.7%. Science appears to be a shared strength, with Hiddenite’s 5th grade science score standing out as the single best result in the area relative to state averages. Parents should also note that grade-level scores can swing sharply from year to year due to different cohorts, such as Hiddenite’s 5th grade science jumping from 52.5% to 80%, and 4th grade reading dropping from 66.7% to 39.2%. With no high school in the ZIP code, families will need to look outside 28636 for high school options.