Pender County Schools School District

925 Penderlea Hwy
Burgaw, NC 28425
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Pender County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 15 public elementary schools serving 7,588 students in Pender County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Pender County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
19 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
11,070 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
685 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Pender County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 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 94% has increased from 89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(21-22)
55%
51%
51%
50%
67%
63%
(21-22)
94%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.53
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
17%
21%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
66%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $9,748 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,413 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$108 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$104 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,748
$11,187
Spending / Student
$9,413
$11,612

Best Pender County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Topsail Annandale Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
17385 Us Hwy 17
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-1977
Gr: PK-4 | 587 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Surf City Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
12345-a Literacy Lane
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 928-0067
Gr: PK-5 | 850 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #33.
South Topsail Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
997 Hoover Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2756
Gr: PK-5 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #44.
Topsail Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
17445 Us Hwy 17
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2612
Gr: 5-8 | 855 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
North Topsail Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1310 Sloop Point Loop Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0694
Gr: PK-5 | 565 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #66.
Surf City Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
12345-b Literacy Lane
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 928-0087
Gr: 6-8 | 750 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #77.
Rocky Point Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
255 Elementary School Road
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 675-2309
Gr: PK-5 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #88.
Penderlea Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
11 Garden Road
Willard, NC 28478
(910) 285-2761
Gr: K-8 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #99.
C.f. Pope Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
400 North Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0145
Gr: PK-5 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1010.
Cape Fear Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1882 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3767
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1111.
Cape Fear Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3334
Gr: 6-8 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1212.
Pender Innovative Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 789-6073
Gr: K-12 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1313.
Malpass Corner Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4992 Malpass Corner Road
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5889
Gr: PK-5 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1414.
Burgaw Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
500 South Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0149
Gr: 6-8 | 228 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1515.
West Pender Middle School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
10750 Nc Hwy 53 West
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5626
Gr: 6-8 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 69%

Recent Articles

School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 19 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 11,070 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 34%
  • : 94% (Top 1% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 55% (Top 50%)
  • : 51% (Top 50%)
  • : 67% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links