Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28741

Zip code 28741, covering the mountain community of Highlands, North Carolina, is served by just one school: Highlands School, a K-12 alternative school within Macon County Schools. Because there are no neighboring schools in this zip code, the most useful comparisons are against the district and state. Highlands enrolls 344 students, has a favorable 12.5:1 student–teacher ratio, and about one-third (33.4%) of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Highlands is a standout in its district and often beats state averages. On the 2025–2026 End-of-Course exams, Math I proficiency was 87.5% versus roughly 42% for both the district and state, Biology reached 75% compared to the state's 58.5%, and English II hit 80% versus 64.6% statewide. Elementary math is also strong, with 3rd grade at 75% and 4th grade at 71.1%, and reading proficiency exceeds the district in every grade tested. However, the school's clearest weakness is middle school math: proficiency falls to 41.7% in 7th grade and 46.9% in 8th grade, both below state averages. Science also trails the state in 5th and 8th grades, 5th grade science sits at 57.7% versus the state's 67.7%, and Math III is only average once other factors like district and state numbers are considered.

Other data points add helpful context. Highlands posts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.2%—about half the state's 24.2%—which is a positive signal for student engagement. Yet its graduation rate of 83.9% trails both the district's 91.2% and the state's 88.8%. The school has also shown dramatic year-over-year gains, including a 31-point jump in Math I and a 28-point improvement in 8th grade math, though such swings are typical of small schools where just a handful of students can shift results dramatically. Overall, families considering Highlands will find a school with exceptional high school EOC scores, strong early-grade math and reading, and low absenteeism, but they should look closely at the middle school math decline and the graduation gap before making enrollment decisions.