Mills River Elementary

94 School House Road
Mills River, NC 28759

www.hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org/mrs/

608 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Mills River Elementary School, located in the rural community of Mills River, North Carolina, is a core institution within the Henderson County Public Schools system. Serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is situated in a growing area that maintains a strong sense of community, blending its agricultural roots with suburban development. The school is known for fostering a supportive, student-centered environment that emphasizes both academic achievement and the development of strong character in its learners.

As a member of the Henderson County district, Mills River Elementary benefits from a comprehensive curriculum aligned with state standards, often enriched by active parent involvement and community partnerships. The school places a significant focus on preparing students for future success through a balance of core subjects—such as reading, mathematics, and science—and extracurricular opportunities that encourage personal growth. With its focus on high expectations and a nurturing atmosphere, Mills River Elementary continues to serve as a vital hub for education and community engagement in western North Carolina.

608

Total Students

39.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

40.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Mills River Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	497
Hispanic	76
Black	7
Asian	4
Two or More	22
Pacific Islander	2

White
497 (81.7%)
Hispanic
76 (12.5%)
Two or More
22 (3.6%)
Black
7 (1.2%)
Asian
4 (0.7%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Henderson County Schools
Phone:	(828)891-6563
Website:	http://www.hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org/mrs/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	608
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	39.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	221
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	26

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 100

Grade 1 88

Grade 2 90

Grade 3 114

Grade 4 119

Grade 5 97