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 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 11,070 students in Pender County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Pender County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
19 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
11,070 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
685 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
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)
55%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
63%
Graduation Rate
94%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.53
0.71
# American Indian Students
37 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
58 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
1,888 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
17%
21%
# Black Students
1,187 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
11%
25%
# White Students
7,261 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
66%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
634 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
243
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
689
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
760
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
855
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
831
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
848
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
849
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
808
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
843
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
832
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
880
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
963
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
907
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
762
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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 Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-13
| 188 students
Rank: #22.
Topsail Annandale Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
17385 Us Hwy 17
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-1977
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-1977
Grades: PK-4
| 587 students
Rank: #33.
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
Grades: 9-12
| 1,888 students
Rank: #44.
Surf City Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12345-a Literacy Lane
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 928-0067
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 928-0067
Grades: PK-5
| 850 students
Rank: #55.
South Topsail Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
997 Hoover Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2756
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2756
Grades: PK-5
| 610 students
Rank: #66.
Topsail Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
17445 Us Hwy 17
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2612
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2612
Grades: 5-8
| 855 students
Rank: #77.
North Topsail Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1310 Sloop Point Loop Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0694
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-0694
Grades: PK-5
| 565 students
Rank: #88.
Surf City Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
12345-b Literacy Lane
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 928-0087
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 928-0087
Grades: 6-8
| 750 students
Rank: #99.
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
Grades: 9-12
| 672 students
Rank: #1010.
Rocky Point Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
255 Elementary School Road
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 675-2309
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 675-2309
Grades: PK-5
| 402 students
Rank: #1111.
Penderlea Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
11 Garden Road
Willard, NC 28478
(910) 285-2761
Willard, NC 28478
(910) 285-2761
Grades: K-8
| 484 students
Rank: #1212.
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
Grades: 9-12
| 734 students
Rank: #1313.
C.f. Pope Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
400 North Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0145
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0145
Grades: PK-5
| 538 students
Rank: #1414.
Cape Fear Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1882 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3767
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3767
Grades: PK-5
| 543 students
Rank: #1515.
Cape Fear Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3334
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-3334
Grades: 6-8
| 449 students
Rank: #1616.
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
Grades: K-12
| 48 students
Rank: #1717.
Malpass Corner Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4992 Malpass Corner Road
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5889
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5889
Grades: PK-5
| 491 students
Rank: #1818.
Burgaw Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 South Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0149
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0149
Grades: 6-8
| 228 students
Rank: #1919.
West Pender Middle School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
10750 Nc Hwy 53 West
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5626
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 283-5626
Grades: 6-8
| 188 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Pender County Schools School District?
Pender County Schools School District manages 19 public schools serving 11,070 students.
What is the rank of Pender County Schools School District?
Pender County Schools School District is ranked #132 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 10%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Pender County Schools School District?
66% of Pender County Schools School District students are White, 17% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Black, and 6% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Pender County Schools School District?
Pender County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Pender County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
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.
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