Excellent
#209 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 8% in state
Mills River Elementary
Elementary School · Henderson County Schools · Mills River, NC
A Henderson County Schools elementary school where students score 25 points above what's typical for similar communities.
94 School House Road, Mills River, NC 28759
- Math 77% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 66% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mills River Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 71% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Mills River Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average689/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$88,984
Median home value
$364,900
Median rent
$1,611/mo
College educated
42.6%
Homeownership
86.7%
Poverty rate
2.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28759; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills River Seventh-day Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.5private | K–8 | 1.6 mi | 51 | Compare → |
| Glenn C Marlow ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | K–5 | 2.4 mi | 557 | Compare → |
| Wild Oak Independent SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–6 | 2.6 mi | 19 | Compare → |
| Etowah ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | 4.4 mi | 300 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Henderson County Schools
- Schools in district
- 23
- Rank in district
- #2 of 23
- District spending per student
- $11,579NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mills River Elementary is listed in Henderson County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mills River Elementary
Mills River Elementary is a public elementary school in Mills River, NC, part of Henderson County Schools, serving approximately 579 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #209 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 579
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Henderson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.6%
- Phone
- (828) 891-6563
- Area population (ZIP 28759)
- 7,564
- Area average commute
- 21.4 min
- Area median age
- 46.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28759; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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