Top 10 Best New Hanover County Public Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 51 public schools serving 27,213 students in New Hanover County, NC (there are 24 private schools, serving 4,631 private students). 85% of all K-12 students in New Hanover County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in New Hanover County, NC are Wilmington Early College High School, Isaac M Bear Early College High School and Wrightsville Beach Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
New Hanover County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in New Hanover County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 55% (majority Black).

Best Public Schools in New Hanover County (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Wilmington Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
4500 Blue Clay Rd, Wechs Bldg.
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 362-7789
Grades: 9-13
| 233 students
Rank: #22.
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
630 Macmillan Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-1387
Grades: 9-12
| 230 students
Rank: #33.
Wrightsville Beach Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
220 Coral Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-3171
Grades: K-5
| 266 students
Rank: #44.
Ogden Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3637 Middle Sound Rd
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-6464
Grades: K-5
| 626 students
Rank: #55.
Masonboro Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3518 Masonboro Loop Road
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2355
Grades: K-5
| 543 students
Rank: #66.
Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6701 Gordon Road
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 397-1544
Grades: K-5
| 450 students
Rank: #77.
Dr John Codington Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4321 Carolina Beach Road
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2236
Grades: K-5
| 454 students
Rank: #88.
Holly Tree Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3020 Web Trace
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2250
Grades: K-5
| 436 students
Rank: #99.
John T Hoggard High School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4305 Shipyard Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2072
Grades: 9-12
| 2,172 students
Rank: #1010.
Porters Neck Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
416 Edgewater Club Rd
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 251-2975
Grades: K-5
| 528 students
Rank: #1111.
Heyward C Bellamy Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
70 Sanders Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2039
Grades: K-5
| 567 students
Rank: #1212.
Cape Fear Center For Inquiry
Charter School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2525 Wonder Way
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 362-0000
Grades: K-8
| 408 students
Rank: #1313.
Emsley A Laney High School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2700 N College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2089
Grades: 9-12
| 2,114 students
Rank: #1414.
Edwin A Anderson Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
455 Halyburton Memorial Parkwa
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 798-3311
Grades: K-5
| 621 students
Rank: #1515.
M C S Noble Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6520 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2112
Grades: 6-8
| 629 students
Rank: #1616.
Charles P Murray Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
655 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2363
Grades: 6-8
| 832 students
Rank: #1717.
Sea-tech
Vocational School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5301 Sidbury Road
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 530-6300
Grades: 9-13
| 215 students
Rank: #1818.
Carolina Beach Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
400 South 4th St
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
(910) 458-4340
Grades: K-5
| 409 students
Rank: #1919.
Eugene Ashley High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
555 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2360
Grades: 9-12
| 1,931 students
Rank: #2020.
New Hanover High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1307 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6100
Grades: 9-12
| 1,543 students
Rank: #2121.
Roland-grise Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4412 Lake Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2136
Grades: 6-8
| 830 students
Rank: #2222.
Bradley Creek Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6211 Greenville Loop
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2051
Grades: K-5
| 367 students
Rank: #2323.
Castle Hayne Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3925 Roger Haynes Drive
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4970
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students
Rank: #2424.
Coastal Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1135 Pandion Dr
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 839-0012
Grades: K-8
| 719 students
Rank: #2525.
Emma B Trask Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2900 N College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2142
Grades: 6-8
| 680 students
Rank: #2626.
Island Montessori Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6339 Carolina Beach Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 795-4860
Grades: K-8
| 205 students
Rank: #2727.
Murrayville Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
225 Mabee Way
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 790-5067
Grades: K-5
| 529 students
Rank: #2828.
Myrtle Grove Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
901 Piner Rd
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2100
Grades: 6-8
| 715 students
Rank: #2929.
Pine Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
440 John S Mosby Dr
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2121
Grades: K-5
| 458 students
Rank: #3030.
Holly Shelter Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3921 Roger Haynes Dr
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4046
Grades: 6-8
| 885 students
Rank: #3131.
Career Readiness At Mosley Plc
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3702 Princess Place Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6161
Grades: 6-12
| 118 students
Rank: #3232.
Winter Park Model Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
204 S Macmillan Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2159
Grades: K-5
| 292 students
Rank: #3333.
Classical Charter Schools Of Wilmington
Charter School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
507 N 6th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-1976
Grades: K-5
| 115 students
Rank: #3434.
Girls Leadership Of Wilmington
Charter School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4100 Sunglow Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 338-5258
Grades: 6-11
| 380 students
Rank: #3535.
Mary C Williams Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
801 Silver Lake Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2150
Grades: K-5
| 393 students
Show 16 more public schools in New Hanover County, NC (out of 51 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in New Hanover County, NC

New Hanover County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
813 Nixon St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Grades: 6-8
| 206 students
813 Nixon St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1100 Mcrae St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6155
Grades: K-5
| 130 students
3830 Juvenile Center Rd
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 675-0594
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in New Hanover County, NC?
How many public schools are located in New Hanover County, NC?
51 public schools are located in New Hanover County, NC.
What percentage of students in New Hanover County, NC go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in New Hanover County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in New Hanover County, NC?
New Hanover County, NC public schools minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 55% (majority Black).

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