Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28604

Summary:

The 28604 zip code in North Carolina is home to a single standout elementary school, Banner Elk Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top 3% of elementary schools in the state. This school's exceptional academic performance, diverse student population, and efficient resource allocation make it a model for educational excellence in the region.

Avery County Schools district, of which Banner Elk Elementary is a part, has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past three school years, indicating the district's commitment to providing high-quality education. Banner Elk Elementary, in particular, has outperformed both the district and state averages on standardized test scores in mathematics, reading, and science, with an impressive 94.1% of 3rd graders, 81.5% of 4th graders, and 96% of 5th graders scoring proficient or better on the mathematics EOG test, compared to 63.8% and 62.7% at the district and state levels, respectively.

With a diverse student population that includes 87.5% white, 9.66% Hispanic, 1.14% Asian, and 0.57% African American students, and nearly half of the student body (47.16%) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Banner Elk Elementary serves a socioeconomically diverse community. Despite this diversity, the school has been able to achieve exceptional academic outcomes while operating efficiently, spending only $11,831 per student (2018-2019 school year).

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOG Mathematics (2024)			EOG Reading (2024)			EOG Science (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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Banner Elk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Orchard Lane	Banner Elk	28604	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 737-5700	168	14	11.9	98.2%	147 (87.5%)	2 (1.2%)	17 (10.1%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	95	48^th of 1505 public elementary schools	96.8%		96	25^th of 1502 public elementary schools	98.3%	23	94.1	81.5	96.0	82.4	74.1	88.0	88.0	$11,831	$1,739	$10,092

Cities Near Zip Code 28604

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Banner Elk	2.43 mi	1	5^th
Sugar Grove	3.68 mi	2	130^th
Vilas	7.39 mi	1	87^th
Elk Park	7.94 mi	2	55^th
Newland	8.29 mi	5	302^nd

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.