Schools in Zip Code 28773

ZIP code 28773 (Saluda, North Carolina) is served by a single public school — Saluda Elementary School — which covers grades PK–5 with 142 students, meaning families with middle and high school students must travel outside the area for secondary education within Polk County Schools. Saluda Elementary is part of Polk County Schools, a district ranked 57th of 246 districts in North Carolina (77th percentile, 4 stars), but the school itself stands out even more: it has ranked in the top 12% of North Carolina elementary schools for three consecutive years, earning 5 stars in the prior two school years and 4 stars most recently.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Saluda Elementary is its performance given that 97.89% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Despite this high-poverty indicator, the school has posted remarkable End-of-Grade (EOG) results: 100% proficiency in 4th grade math and 3rd grade reading in 2025–2026, with 3rd grade math at 95.6% the prior year. Across most subjects and grade levels, the school outperforms both Polk County and North Carolina averages. The school also has a low student–teacher ratio of 10.3 to 1, which likely supports individualized instruction, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 18.8% is better than both the district's 23.5% and the state's 24.2%.

The school's most recent statewide ranking slipped slightly from the 94th to the 88th percentile, driven largely by a weaker fifth-grade cohort (63.6% math and 54.5% reading proficiency in 2025–2026). With only 142 students across PK–5, each grade holds roughly 20–30 students, so one or two students can shift percentages significantly; the apparent fifth-grade decline is better understood as cohort variation than a school-wide trend. Families should note that per-student spending data ($13,956) dates to 2018–2019 and may not reflect current funding. Overall, Saluda Elementary is a small, high-poverty, high-performing school that demonstrates strong outcomes are achievable, making it a standout option within ZIP code 28773 and across North Carolina.