Best Schools in Pender County, NC
Pender County, NC has 29 public schools (7 high, 7 middle, 13 elementary) serving 18,855 students. On average they score 56% on state proficiency tests against a projected 51%, so schools in Pender County don't meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Pender County, NC
The top high schools in Pender County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Pender Early College High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 203 Students
2. Topsail High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1777 Students
3. Dixon High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1149 Students
4. New Hanover High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1466 Students
5. Heide Trask High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 720 Students
6. Southwest High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 702 Students
7. Pender High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 677 Students
Best Middle Schools in Pender County, NC
The top middle schools in Pender County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Topsail Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 807 Students
2. Surf City Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 705 Students
3. Dixon Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 948 Students
4. Holly Shelter Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 858 Students
5. Cape Fear Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 462 Students
6. Burgaw Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 257 Students
7. West Pender Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 179 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Pender County, NC
The top elementary schools in Pender County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Topsail Annandale Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 631 Students
2. Porters Neck Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 605 Students
3. North Topsail Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 608 Students
4. Coastal Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 822 Students
5. South Topsail Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 557 Students
6. Rocky Point Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 399 Students
7. Surf City Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 808 Students
8. Southwest Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 742 Students
9. Cape Fear Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 545 Students
10. Penderlea Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 495 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Pender County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Pender County, NC has a total population of 60,203 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 91%, and 31% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Pender County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Pender County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
20.08 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.95 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
17.13 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Pender County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Pender County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Pender County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Pender County, NC
How many schools are in Pender County, NC?
Pender County, NC has 29 public schools: 7 high schools, 7 middle schools and 13 elementary schools, serving 18,855 students in total.
How do schools in Pender County perform on state tests?
On average, 29 schools in Pender County score 56% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 51%, so on average schools in Pender County don't meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Pender County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Pender County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 67%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 40%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 24%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Pender County
4 places in Pender County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (4)
- Hampstead (7)
- Burgaw (6)
- Rocky Point (5)
- Willard (1)
School districts (1)
- Pender County Schools (19 schools)