Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28759

ZIP code 28759 is served by two public elementary schools—Mills River Elementary and Glenn C Marlow Elementary—both part of Henderson County Schools and serving grades K-5. These are the only schools in the ZIP code, so families here have two excellent elementary options, while middle and high school students attend schools outside the immediate area.

Glenn C Marlow is the clear academic leader. It holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 8% of elementary schools in North Carolina, with especially strong math scores—around 86–89% proficiency in grades 3–5 in the latest year. Mills River, while a notch behind in reading and math, is still a solid 4-star school that outperforms district and state averages in nearly every subject. In fact, Mills River surpasses Glenn C Marlow in 5th-grade science (85.7% vs. 82.2%). The widest gaps between the two schools appear in 4th-grade reading and math, where Glenn C Marlow leads by roughly 15–16 percentage points. Both schools are far above the Henderson County and North Carolina averages in most tested areas.

Demographically and operationally, the schools are similar. Student-teacher ratios are nearly identical (15.5 at Mills River, 15.9 at Glenn C Marlow), as is per-pupil spending. Mills River has a higher share of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (40.6% vs. 30.3%). Chronic absenteeism is very low at both schools—around 8%—compared to a state average of 24.2%, which likely supports their strong academics. Over the past few years, both schools have slipped slightly in statewide percentile rank, but their star ratings remain stable. For parents, ZIP 28759 offers two high-performing, well-regarded elementary schools, with Glenn C Marlow the standout for math and reading and Mills River an excellent choice for families prioritizing science and consistent, above-average achievement.