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 5 public high schools serving 3,530 students in Pender County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Pender County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Pender County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 93%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Topsail High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
19 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
11,070 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
685 Teachers
33,453 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.
Overall District Rank
#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)55%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)94%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.53
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
17%
20%
% Black
11%
24%
% White
66%
45%
% 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.
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 High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pender Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
100 East Industrial Drive
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 362-7925
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 362-7925
Gr: 9-13 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #22.
Topsail High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
245 St. Johns Church Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2755
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2755
Gr: 9-12 | 1,888 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Pender High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5380 Nc Hwy 53 W
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0162
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0162
Gr: 9-12 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #44.
Heide Trask High School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
14328 Nc Hwy 210
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-6810
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-6810
Gr: 9-12 | 734 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #55.
Pender Innovative Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 789-6073
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 789-6073
Gr: K-12 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Recent Articles
10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. Public Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.
