Summary:
Zip code 28754, which includes Mars Hill, NC, has just one public school: Mars Hill Elementary, a K-5 elementary school serving 445 students in Madison County Schools. Because no middle or high school is located in this zip code, families should know that students in this district move to schools outside the immediate area after 5th grade. The district itself is well regarded, ranking 70th out of 246 North Carolina districts with a 4-star rating.
Mars Hill Elementary is the only school in the area, and it stands out in the most recent 2025–2026 data. The school outperformed the state in six of seven tested grade-subject combinations. Math is a clear strength, with 3rd grade math at 73.4% proficiency and 5th grade math at 68.2%, both above district and state averages. Science is the school's highest-performing subject, with 5th grade science at 77.6%, nearly 10 points above the state. The school also made dramatic year-over-year gains, particularly in 3rd grade reading, which jumped from 40.7% to 65.6%—a 24.9-point improvement. Every grade and subject improved compared to the prior year, helping the school climb from the 45th to the 67th percentile in state elementary rankings.
The main relative weakness is 4th grade reading, where 56.6% of students are proficient, slightly below the state's 57.7%. Chronic absenteeism affects about 21.7% of students, but that is lower than both the district's 26.9% and the state's 24.2%. Perhaps most notably, nearly 99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still posts above-average results in most subjects. With a positive trajectory and strong district support, Mars Hill Elementary appears to be a solid choice for families in the area, though attendance and 4th grade reading remain worth monitoring.
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