Top Rankings
New Hanover County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public preschools serving 2,260 students in New Hanover County Schools School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in New Hanover County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
43 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
24,978 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
1,682 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
New Hanover 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 89% has increased from 83% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#111 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
63%
Graduation Rate
89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.72
# American Indian Students
68 Students
6,572 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
439 Students
18,458 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
4,790 Students
105,943 Students
% Hispanic Students
19%
23%
# Black Students
4,036 Students
114,509 Students
% Black Students
16%
25%
# White Students
14,322 Students
189,147 Students
% White Students
57%
41%
# Hawaiian Students
37 Students
648 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,336 Students
28,778 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
147
23,104
# Students in K Grade:
1,696
72,144
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,856
74,289
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,892
75,942
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,828
68,925
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,812
69,686
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,848
66,668
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,722
5,021
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,763
3,684
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,757
3,629
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,389
214
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,151
194
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,234
187
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,883
368
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,729 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,991 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$293 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$300 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,729
$11,187
Spending / Student
$11,991
$11,612
Best New Hanover County Schools School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 496 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 576 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 455 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 470 students
Rank: #55.
R Freeman Sch Of Engineering
Magnet School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2601 Princess Place Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6011
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6011
Grades: PK-5
| 263 students
Rank: n/an/a
4905 South College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-7860
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 350-7860
Grades: PK
| n/a students
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