Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28716

ZIP code 28716 covers Canton, North Carolina, and contains five traditional public schools in Haywood County Schools, a 4-star district ranked 64th of 246 statewide: three elementary schools (Bethel Elementary, North Canton Elementary, and Meadowbrook Elementary), one middle school (Canton Middle), and one high school (Pisgah High). Together they serve roughly 2,401 students in grades PK–12, and the area stands out for its uniformly high poverty levels, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility at every school falling between 97.98% and 99.65%.

Academic outcomes vary widely despite that shared poverty. Pisgah High is the strongest school, ranking in the top quarter of North Carolina high schools with a 94.5% graduation rate and proficiency well above state averages in every tested subject — its Math I score of 76.3% is remarkable compared with the 42.1% statewide rate. Bethel Elementary follows with excellent 5th-grade science at 87.4% and math at 81.6%, and North Canton Elementary posts strong early-grade results — 81.1% in 3rd-grade math — with the lowest chronic absenteeism in the ZIP code at 12.7%. Canton Middle is solid in math and science but loses ground in reading, and its 28.0% chronic absenteeism rate is a clear warning sign. Meadowbrook Elementary trails the group, especially in 5th grade, where math proficiency is just 37.5%.

The gap is clearest by 5th grade: Bethel Elementary reaches 81.6% math proficiency while Meadowbrook Elementary manages only 37.5% — a 44-point chasm at schools with nearly identical poverty rates. Notably, Meadowbrook spends the most per pupil of the elementary schools, yet its results are the weakest, suggesting funding alone is not the answer. Canton Middle's reading struggles and high absenteeism may be related, while Pisgah High's strong English II results show that students can regain ground by high school. Overall, this ZIP code shows that high poverty does not prevent high achievement — consistent instruction, solid early-grade foundations, and better attendance separate the top performers from the schools that need support.