For the 2025 school year, there are 51 public schools serving 27,453 students in New Hanover County, NC (there are 25 private schools, serving 4,795 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 55% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 50% 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 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in New Hanover County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Wilmington Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 90-94% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4500 Blue Clay Rd, Wechs Bldg.
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 362-7789
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 362-7789
Grades: 9-13
| 241 students
Rank: #22.
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
630 Macmillan Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-1387
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-1387
Grades: 9-12
| 251 students
Rank: #33.
Wrightsville Beach Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
220 Coral Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-3171
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-3171
Grades: K-5
| 273 students
Rank: #44.
Masonboro Elementary School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3518 Masonboro Loop Road
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2355
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2355
Grades: K-5
| 583 students
Rank: #55.
Ogden Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3637 Middle Sound Rd
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-6464
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-6464
Grades: K-5
| 607 students
Rank: #66.
Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6701 Gordon Road
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 397-1544
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 397-1544
Grades: K-5
| 448 students
Rank: #77.
Dr John Codington Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4321 Carolina Beach Road
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2236
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2236
Grades: K-5
| 448 students
Rank: #88.
John T Hoggard High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4305 Shipyard Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2072
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2072
Grades: 9-12
| 2,178 students
Rank: #99.
Heyward C Bellamy Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
70 Sanders Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2039
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2039
Grades: K-5
| 562 students
Rank: #1010.
Holly Tree Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3020 Web Trace
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2250
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 790-2250
Grades: K-5
| 406 students
Rank: #1111.
Eugene Ashley High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
555 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2360
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2360
Grades: 9-12
| 1,899 students
Rank: #1212.
Emsley A Laney High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2700 N College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2089
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2089
Grades: 9-12
| 2,248 students
Rank: #1313.
Charles P Murray Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
655 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2363
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 790-2363
Grades: 6-8
| 899 students
Rank: #1414.
Porters Neck Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
416 Edgewater Club Rd
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 251-2975
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 251-2975
Grades: K-5
| 655 students
Rank: #1515.
Cape Fear Center For Inquiry
Charter School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2525 Wonder Way
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 362-0000
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 362-0000
Grades: K-8
| 404 students
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Carolina Beach Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 South 4th St
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
(910) 458-4340
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
(910) 458-4340
Grades: K-5
| 432 students
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Edwin A Anderson Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
455 Halyburton Memorial Parkwa
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 798-3311
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 798-3311
Grades: K-5
| 610 students
Rank: #1818.
M C S Noble Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6520 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2112
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2112
Grades: 6-8
| 647 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Bradley Creek Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6211 Greenville Loop
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2051
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2051
Grades: K-5
| 381 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
New Hanover High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1307 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6100
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6100
Grades: 9-12
| 1,515 students
Rank: #2121.
Sea-tech
Vocational School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5301 Sidbury Road
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 530-6300
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 530-6300
Grades: 9-13
| 228 students
Rank: #2222.
Roland-grise Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4412 Lake Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2136
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2136
Grades: 6-8
| 848 students
Rank: #2323.
Pine Valley Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
440 John S Mosby Dr
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2121
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2121
Grades: K-5
| 455 students
Rank: #2424.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 496 students
Rank: #2525.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 576 students
Rank: #2626.
Winter Park Model Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
204 S Macmillan Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2159
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2159
Grades: K-5
| 291 students
Rank: #2727.
Mary C Williams Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
801 Silver Lake Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2150
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-2150
Grades: K-5
| 399 students
Rank: #2828.
American Leadership Academy-coastal
Charter School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1135 Pandion Dr
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 839-0012
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 839-0012
Grades: K-10
| 862 students
Rank: #2929.
Emma B Trask Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2900 N College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2142
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 350-2142
Grades: 6-8
| 651 students
Rank: #3030.
Career Readiness Academy At Mosley Plc
Alternative School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3702 Princess Place Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6161
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6161
Grades: 6-12
| 86 students
Rank: #3131.
Island Montessori Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6339 Carolina Beach Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 795-4860
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 795-4860
Grades: K-8
| 214 students
Rank: #3232.
Myrtle Grove Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
901 Piner Rd
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2100
Wilmington, NC 28409
(910) 350-2100
Grades: 6-8
| 597 students
Rank: #3333.
Holly Shelter Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3921 Roger Haynes Dr
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4046
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 602-4046
Grades: 6-8
| 822 students
Rank: #3434.
Edwin A Alderman Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2025 Independence Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2031
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-2031
Grades: K-5
| 274 students
Rank: #3535.
Classical Charter Schools Of Wilmington
Charter School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
507 N 6th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-1976
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-1976
Grades: K-5
| 133 students
Show 16 more public schools in New Hanover County, NC (out of 51 total schools)
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New Hanover County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
813 Nixon St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Grades: 6-8
| 206 students
813 Nixon St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6150
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1100 Mcrae St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6155
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-6155
Grades: K-5
| 130 students
3830 Juvenile Center Rd
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
(910) 675-0594
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?
The top ranked public schools in New Hanover County, NC include Wilmington Early College High School, Isaac M Bear Early College High School and Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in New Hanover County?
51 public schools are located in New Hanover County.
What percentage of students in New Hanover County go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in New Hanover County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in New Hanover County?
New Hanover County public schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in New Hanover County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in New Hanover County include: Sea-tech vs. Wilmington Early College High School, Wilmington Early College High School vs. Sea-tech, New Hanover High School vs. John T Hoggard High School
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