Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28787

Zip code 28787 in Weaverville, North Carolina is served by six schools covering the full PK–12 spectrum, all of which belong to Buncombe County Schools. The area uses a clear feeder pattern: Weaverville Primary (PK–1) feeds into Weaverville Elementary and North Buncombe Elementary (2–4), which lead to North Windy Ridge Intermediate (5–6), North Buncombe Middle (7–8), and finally North Buncombe High (9–12). One of the most notable facts is that all six schools report free/reduced lunch rates above 97%, reflecting a high-need community — yet nearly every school here beats district and state proficiency averages.

Weaverville Elementary is the strongest school in the zip code. It holds a 4-star rating, ranks in the 88th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, and posts standout scores such as 81% proficiency in 4th grade math and 73.8% in 4th grade reading — well above state averages — while also having the area’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 11.6%. North Buncombe Middle is nearly as impressive, with a 4-star rating and a 79th-percentile ranking. Every subject it tests beats district and state averages, and its 8th grade reading proficiency jumped 14 points in a single year. North Windy Ridge Intermediate, though unranked, exceeds state averages in every subject as well. North Buncombe High is the relative weak spot: its rank has slipped to the 53rd percentile, and its Math III proficiency (64%) falls below the state average, though its 90% graduation rate and 13% chronic absenteeism rate remain strong positives.

For parents comparing schools, attendance appears closely tied to achievement: Weaverville Elementary has a chronic absenteeism rate of 11.6% with 75.8% average proficiency, while North Buncombe Elementary has a notably higher 21.2% absenteeism rate and lower 66.8% proficiency. Overall, this zip code offers a strong, cohesive elementary-through-middle school pathway, led by Weaverville Elementary and North Buncombe Middle. The biggest watch item is math at North Buncombe High, where Math I and Math III results point to the clearest opportunity for improvement.