Top Rankings
New Hanover County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public preschools serving 2,057 students in New Hanover County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in New Hanover County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
42 Schools
1,005 Schools
# Students
24,761 Students
477,346 Students
# Teachers
1,605 Teachers
32,717 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
New Hanover County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 88% has increased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#111 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)57%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
63%
Graduation Rate
88%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)28.5%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.62
0.73
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
20%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
16%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
56%
40%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,709 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,884 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$364 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$369 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,709
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$14,884
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best New Hanover County Schools Public Preschools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Castle Hayne Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3925 Roger Haynes Drive
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4970
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4970
Gr: PK-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #22.
Murrayville Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
225 Mabee Way
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 790-5067
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 790-5067
Gr: PK-5 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #33.
John J Blair Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6510 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2045
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2045
Gr: PK-5 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Wrightsboro Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2716 Castle Hayne Rd
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 815-6909
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 815-6909
Gr: PK-5 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
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