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Best Schools in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC has 78 public schools (13 high, 12 middle, 46 elementary) serving 41,289 students. On average they score 56% on state proficiency tests against a projected 49%, so schools in Wilmington meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Wilmington, NC
The top high schools in Wilmington, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Isaac M Bear Early College High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 226 Students
2. Topsail High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1777 Students
3. Wilmington Early College High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 255 Students
4. John T Hoggard High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2226 Students
5. Girls Leadership Academy Of Wilmington
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Girls Leadership Academy Of Wilmington • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 385 Students
6. Eugene Ashley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1975 Students
7. South Brunswick High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Brunswick County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1172 Students
8. North Brunswick High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Brunswick County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1450 Students
9. Emsley A Laney High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2220 Students
10. New Hanover High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1466 Students
Best Middle Schools in Wilmington, NC
The top middle schools in Wilmington, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Charles P Murray Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 882 Students
2. Topsail Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 807 Students
3. Roland-grise Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 860 Students
4. M C S Noble Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 652 Students
5. Myrtle Grove Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 645 Students
6. Holly Shelter Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 858 Students
7. South Brunswick Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Brunswick County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 572 Students
8. Emma B Trask Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 673 Students
9. Cape Fear Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 462 Students
10. Leland Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Brunswick County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 780 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Wilmington, NC
The top elementary schools in Wilmington, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Wrightsville Beach Elem
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 263 Students
2. Masonboro Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 575 Students
3. Ogden Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 641 Students
4. Carolina Beach Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 431 Students
5. Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elem
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 440 Students
6. Heyward C Bellamy Elem
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 556 Students
7. Topsail Annandale Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pender County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 631 Students
8. Porters Neck Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 605 Students
9. Holly Tree Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 423 Students
10. Dr John Codington Elem
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 441 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Wilmington, NC
City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Wilmington, NC has a total population of 169,085 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 45% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
34.60 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.23 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
30.37 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Wilmington, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Wilmington, NC
How many schools are in Wilmington, NC?
Wilmington, NC has 78 public schools: 13 high schools, 12 middle schools and 46 elementary schools, serving 41,289 students in total.
How do schools in Wilmington perform on state tests?
On average, 78 schools in Wilmington score 56% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 49%, so on average schools in Wilmington meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 69%
- Projected: 58%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Every school in Wilmington
44 of 44 schools in Wilmington carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:
A: 14B: 9C: 6D: 9F: 6
All 44 public schools we grade in Wilmington. The ranked lists above show the top ten per level; every school has its own page.
High schools (5)
- Emsley A Laney High
- Eugene Ashley High
- Isaac M Bear Early College High School
- John T Hoggard High
- New Hanover High
Middle and junior high schools (6)
- Charles P Murray Middle
- Emma B Trask Middle
- M C S Noble Middle
- Myrtle Grove Middle
- Roland Grise Middle
- Williston Middle
Elementary and primary schools (19)
- Bradley Creek Elementary
- College Park Elementary
- Dr Hubert Eaton SR Elem
- Dr John Codington Elem
- Edwin A Alderman Elementary
- Edwin A Anderson Elementary
- Forest Hills Global Elementary
- Heyward C Bellamy Elem
- Holly Tree Elementary
- John J Blair Elementary
- Mary C Williams Elementary
- Masonboro Elementary
- Murrayville Elementary
- Ogden Elementary
- Pine Valley Elementary
- Porters Neck Elementary
- Sunset Park Elementary
- Winter Park Model Elementary
- Wrightsboro Elementary
Other schools and academies (14)
- A H Snipes Academy Of Artsdes
- American Leadership Academy Coastal
- Cape Fear Center For Inquiry
- Career Readiness Academy At Mosley Plc
- Classical Charter Schools Of Wilmington
- Dc Virgo Preparatory Academy
- Girls Leadership Academy Of Wilmington
- Island Montessori Charter School
- J C Roe Center
- Lake Forest Academy
- R Freeman Sch Of Engineering
- The International School At Gregory
- Wilmington Preparatory Academy
- Wilmington School Of The Arts
Private schools (17)
Private schools have a SchoolGrade only where their state publishes their test results.
- Calvary Christian School
- Cape Fear Academy
- Coastal Christian High School
- Friends School Of Wilmington
- Hill School Of Wilmington
- Innovative Academy
- New Horizons Elementary School
- Pathways Middle And High
- Peace Rose Montessori
- Peace Rose Montessori School
- Pine Valley Umc Wee Care Preschool & Kindergarten
- Providence Preparatory Academy
- Southeastern Autism Academy
- St Mark Catholic School
- Waterview Learning Academy
- Wilmington Academy Of Arts & Sciences
- Wilmington Christian Academy