Top Rankings
Pender County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public preschools serving 4,563 students in Pender County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Pender County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
19 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
11,060 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
616 Teachers
32,759 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Pender County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 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)
(21-22)55%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)94%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
18%
24%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
65%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $9,757 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,422 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$108 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$104 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,757
$11,168
Spending / Student
$9,422
$11,592
Best Pender County Schools Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
Gr: PK-4 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 857 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #44.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 529 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #55.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #77.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 533 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #88.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 513 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
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