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Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28721

At a glance

Schools

727

Students

5-star school

Top rankedRiverbend Elementary62^nd of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Clyde Elementary up 222 spots statewide this year

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Summary:

Zip code 28721, located in Clyde, North Carolina, is served by two elementary schools within Haywood County Schools, offering grades PK–5 (at Clyde Elementary) and K–5 (at Riverbend Elementary). Both schools serve extremely high-poverty populations, with over 98% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, making this a valuable comparison of two schools with nearly identical demographic challenges but sharply different outcomes.

Riverbend Elementary is the clear standout, ranking 62nd out of 1,492 elementary schools in North Carolina (96th percentile, 5 stars) for 2025–2026. It outperforms both the district and state averages in every tested grade and subject, with its lowest proficiency rate (77.4% in 5th-grade reading) still higher than Clyde Elementary’s highest rate (68.6% in 3rd-grade math). By contrast, Clyde ranks 681st (54th percentile, 3 stars) and has shown volatility over the past three years, dipping to 2 stars in 2024–2025 before recovering. The gap is especially stark in 5th grade, where Clyde falls below state averages in math, reading, and science, while Riverbend remains strong at 90.3%, 77.4%, and 87.1%, respectively.

Notably, these differences cannot be explained by poverty, spending, or class size. Both schools have nearly identical economic profiles, similar student–teacher ratios (14.7 vs. 15.0), and Clyde actually spends slightly more per student ($11,365 vs. $10,871). The most significant measurable difference is chronic absenteeism: 23.4% at Clyde versus just 12.7% at Riverbend, which is also well below the district (19.9%) and state (24.2%) averages. While Clyde Elementary has strengths in early grades and shows recent improvement, Riverbend Elementary’s consistent top-tier performance despite similar demographics makes it a remarkable school. For parents, the key takeaway is that Riverbend delivers elite academic results under high-poverty conditions, while Clyde’s challenges with attendance and upper-grade proficiency suggest areas for attention and support.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Clyde Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4182 Old Clyde Road	Clyde	28721	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 627-2206	523	36	14.7		436 (83.4%)	5 (1.0%)	54 (10.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.6%)	52.9	681^st of 1492 public elementary schools	54.4%		40.8	903^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	39.4%	222	68.6	66.7	50.8	58.6	64.3	49.2	60.0	93.8%	6.3%	$11,365	$1,942	$9,424
Riverbend Elementary	Public	K-5	71 Learning Lane	Clyde	28721	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 627-6565	204	14	15.0		193 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	93.9	62^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	95.8%		94.5	57^th of 1490 public elementary schools	96.2%	5	86.5	92.9	90.3	89.2	78.6	77.4	87.1	87.5%	12.5%	$10,871	$924	$9,947

Cities Near Zip Code 28721

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Clyde	1.1 mi	3	34^th
Waynesville	2.3 mi	8	210^th
Canton	3.99 mi	5	133^rd
Candler	10.62 mi	6	249^th
Leicester	14.36 mi	1	123^rd

See the top NC North Carolina cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.