Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28704

Zip code 28704 (Arden, NC) is served by two elementary schools — Avery’s Creek Elementary and Glen Arden Elementary — both part of Buncombe County Schools and both serving grades PK–4.

Glen Arden Elementary is the clear standout in this area. It has ranked in the 85th–89th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools for three straight years and currently earns a 4-star rating. In the most recent school year, its EOG proficiency rates were strong across every subject and grade: about 77% in 3rd grade math, 72% in 4th grade math, 73% in 3rd grade reading, and 72% in 4th grade reading. That means Glen Arden beat both the Buncombe County district average and the state average in all eight test comparisons across two years. It also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (13.8% vs. the district’s 18.7%) and a smaller student/teacher ratio (13.6 to 1) than its local counterpart.

Avery’s Creek Elementary presents a very different picture. Despite serving a nearly identical population — both schools have free/reduced lunch rates above 95%, and both sit in the same district and same zip code — Avery’s Creek ranks near the bottom third of the state (33rd percentile, 2 stars). Its proficiency rates are consistently much lower, with the biggest gap in 4th grade reading (44% vs. 72% at Glen Arden). Avery’s Creek also has higher chronic absenteeism (19.6%) and a higher student/teacher ratio (15.2 to 1), and it spends about $756 more per student while producing weaker results. On a positive note, Avery’s Creek improved in 3rd grade reading and math from the prior year. Still, for families comparing the two elementary schools in 28704, Glen Arden is the stronger choice based on academics, attendance, and class size, while Avery’s Creek shows the greatest need for targeted support.