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Excellent

#209 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 8% in state

Mills River Elementary

Elementary School · Henderson County Schools

94 School House Road, Mills River, NC 28759

Enrollment

579

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#209 of 2,648

In Mills River

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#2 of 23

Henderson County Schools

Equity

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Mills River Elementary

8.5/10

Elementary School in Mills River · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mills River Seventh-day Adventist School

5.5/10

1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Glenn C Marlow Elementary

8.4/10

2.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Mills River Elementary

Mills River Elementary is a public elementary school in Mills River, NC, part of Henderson County Schools. Mills River Elementary serves approximately 579 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Mills River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #209 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Mills River Elementary show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.4
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.82 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.7% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+12.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+19.3 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+24.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,579
Chronic Absenteeism13.6%

Mills River Elementary — Students at Mills River Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 74.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 65.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
89%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
89%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
58%
2013
Math
63%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
59%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
64%
2016
Math
75%
ELA
61%
2017
Math
75%
ELA
61%
2018
Math
66%
ELA
66%
2019
Math
66%
ELA
66%
2020*
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2021*
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
73.5%
ELA
63.7%
2025
Math
76.9%
ELA
65.8%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Mills River Elementary Compares

See how Mills River Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
92th percentile in NC
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

94 School House Road, Mills River, NC 28759

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mills River Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hendersonville Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Hendersonville), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Glenn C Marlow Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Etowah Elementary (rated 7.0/10, 4.4 miles away, in nearby Etowah), a more accessible option. For more schools in Mills River, see our Mills River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.8 mi
School Distance Rating
MILLS RIVER SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Mills River 1.6 mi 5.5
Glenn C Marlow Elementary Mills River 2.4 mi 8.4
WILD OAK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Hendersonville 2.6 mi
West Henderson High Hendersonville 3.0 mi 8.1
Rugby Middle Hendersonville 3.2 mi 7.8
Etowah Elementary Etowah 4.4 mi 7.0
Fletcher Elementary Fletcher 4.5 mi 6.8
CAPTAIN GILMER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Fletcher 4.5 mi 5.3
FernLeaf Fletcher 5.0 mi 5.6
FLETCHER ACADEMY Fletcher 4.7 mi 6.7
STONEY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hendersonville 4.9 mi
VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Fletcher 5.5 mi 7.3
Avery's Creek Elementary Arden 7.0 mi 4.5
Hendersonville Elementary Hendersonville 6.4 mi 8.9
MONTESSORI COUNTRY DAY Hendersonville 6.4 mi
Hendersonville Middle Hendersonville 6.5 mi 7.2
Koontz Intermediate Asheville 7.5 mi 7.0
Valley Springs Middle Arden 7.6 mi 6.9
Roberson High Asheville 7.7 mi 7.7
Estes Elementary Asheville 7.8 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28759 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$88,984

Median Home Value

$364,900

Median Rent

$1,611/mo

Population

7,564

College Educated

42.6%

Homeownership

86.7%

Avg Commute

21.4 min

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Median Age

46.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Clement Elementary Autryville, NC 8.5
East Robeson Primary Lumberton, NC 8.5
Edwin A Anderson Elementary Wilmington, NC 8.5
Estes Hills Elementary Chapel Hill, NC 8.5
General Greene Elementary Greensboro, NC 8.5
Harris Elementary School Forest City, NC 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mills River Elementary

What grades does Mills River Elementary serve?

Mills River Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Mills River Elementary?

Mills River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 579 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mills River Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Mills River Elementary is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mills River Elementary rank in NC?

Mills River Elementary ranks #209 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Mills River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Mills River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Mills River Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mills River Elementary has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Mills River Elementary a charter school?

No, Mills River Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mills River Elementary a Title I school?

No, Mills River Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mills River Elementary?

99.5% of students at Mills River Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
579
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Henderson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.6%

District

Henderson County Schools
District Enrollment
12,660
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,579
District Rank
#2 of 23

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