Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28722

Summary:

The 28722 zip code area is home to two high schools: Polk County High School and Polk County Early College. While both schools are part of the Polk County Schools district, Polk County Early College stands out as the clear academic leader, ranking 29th out of 640 high schools in North Carolina and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Polk County Early College boasts consistently high test scores, with proficiency rates well above the district and state averages. Its student population is also more diverse, with a lower free/reduced lunch rate compared to Polk County High School. Despite spending less per student, Polk County Early College's smaller size and potentially more focused curriculum appear to contribute to its stronger academic performance.

In contrast, Polk County High School, while still a respectable institution, lags behind its counterpart, ranking 292nd in the state with a 3-star rating. The significant performance gap between the two schools suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as school culture, teaching quality, and curriculum, play a crucial role in student success. Understanding the factors that contribute to Polk County Early College's outstanding achievements could provide valuable insights for improving educational outcomes across the region.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Polk County High School	Public	9-12	1681 East NC 108 Hwy	Columbus	28722	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 894-2525	579	40	14.4	52.0%	426 (73.6%)	32 (5.5%)	91 (15.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.7%)	50.8	292^nd of 640 public high schools	54.4%		60.8	220^th of 626 public high schools	64.9%	72	43.9	60.1	50.4	71.8	$12,130	$897	$11,232
Polk County Early College	Public	9-12	1545 East NC 108 Hwy	Columbus	28722	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 894-2698	84	4	21.7	46.4%	68 (81.0%)	1 (1.2%)	11 (13.1%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.6%)	94.8	29^th of 640 public high schools	95.5%		85.2	104^th of 626 public high schools	83.4%	75	93.3	94.1	100.0	92.9	$9,557	$127	$9,430

Cities Near Zip Code 28722

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Columbus	1.54 mi	2	81^st
Tryon	3.56 mi	1	13^th
Mill Spring	3.98 mi	3	61^st
Saluda	8.7 mi	1	31^st
Lake Lure	11.44 mi	1

See the top NC North Carolina cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.