Can I use New Hanover County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the New Hanover County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in New Hanover County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in New Hanover County?

Start with the 50 listed public schools and 9 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

New Hanover County Schools & Education

Name: New Hanover County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

New Hanover County, North Carolina

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

37/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,880

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

37/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#44

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: New Hanover County

Measured School Summary

New Hanover County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 88.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,880 per pupil, New Hanover County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 7% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read New Hanover County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

50 public schools and 9 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

37/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #44 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

88.0%

matches the state average

Funding context

$6,880

$89 below the state average

School coverage

9 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

New Hanover County has 50 public schools across 9 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What New Hanover County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

New Hanover County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 42 of 50 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#44

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

New Hanover County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

25,244 students

Elementary 26Middle 7High 9Other 0

42 listed schools in this county slice.

American Leadership Academy-Coastal

Other grade structure

777 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Cape Fear Center for Inquiry

Elementary school only in this slice

409 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington

High school only in this slice

385 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

New Hanover County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 42 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in New Hanover County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different New Hanover County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Urban Centers and Charter Schools Define New Hanover Education Landscape

Education data brief for New Hanover County, North Carolina.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:District structure

Public education in New Hanover County is characterized by a concentrated urban school mix and a notable charter school presence. According to NCES directory data, 29 of the county’s 50 schools are located in city locales, with charter schools making up 14.0% of all public institutions. The largest district is New Hanover County Schools, which serves 25,244 students across 42 campuses, including large facilities like John T Hoggard High with 2,226 students. Financially, the county reports a per-pupil expenditure of $6,880, which is slightly below the state average of $6,969 and significantly lower than the national average of approximately $13,000. The graduation rate of 88.0% aligns exactly with the state average and sits one percentage point above the national mark. The county’s composite school score is 37.1, compared to a state average of 40.3 and a national median of 50.0. For school-level performance records, see the NCES Common Core of Data.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in New Hanover County

Reported Enrollment

27,668

50 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary32

Middle7

High10

Other1

9 School Districts in New Hanover County

New Hanover County Schools

American Leadership Academy-Coastal

1 school

777 students

Cape Fear Center for Inquiry

1 school

409 students

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington

1 school

385 students

Island Montessori Charter

1 school

215 students

D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy

1 school

215 students

Wilmington School of the Arts

1 school

201 students

Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington

1 school

125 students

Wilmington Preparatory Academy

1 school

97 students

50 Public Schools in New Hanover County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 50 matching schools

Public schools in New Hanover County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
John T Hoggard High	Profile	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28403City: Midsize	9–12	High	2,226
Emsley A Laney High	Profile	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28405Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	2,220
Eugene Ashley High	Profile	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28412Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,975
New Hanover High	Profile	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28401City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,466
Charles P Murray Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28412Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	882
Roland-Grise Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28403City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	860
Holly Shelter Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Castle Hayne, 28429Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	858
American Leadership Academy-Coastal	Record	American Leadership Academy-Coastal	Wilmington, 28411Suburb: Midsize	KG–9	Charter	777
Williston Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28401City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	683
Emma B Trask Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28405Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	673
M C S Noble Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28405City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	652
Myrtle Grove Middle	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28409Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	645
Ogden Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28411Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	641
Edwin A Anderson Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28412Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	624
Porters Neck Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28411Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	605
Masonboro Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28409City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	575
Murrayville Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28411Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	569
Heyward C Bellamy Elem	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28412Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	556
The International School at Gregory	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28401City: Midsize	KG–8	Primary	522
Wrightsboro Elementary	Record	New Hanover County Schools	Wilmington, 28401Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	522

John T Hoggard High

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28403 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,226 students

Emsley A Laney High

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28405 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,220 students

Eugene Ashley High

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28412 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,975 students

New Hanover High

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28401 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,466 students

Charles P Murray Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28412 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle882 students

Roland-Grise Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28403 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle860 students

Holly Shelter Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Castle Hayne, 28429 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle858 students

American Leadership Academy-Coastal

Wilmington, 28411 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–9Charter777 students

Williston Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28401 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle683 students

Emma B Trask Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28405 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle673 students

M C S Noble Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28405 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle652 students

Myrtle Grove Middle

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28409 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle645 students

Ogden Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28411 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary641 students

Edwin A Anderson Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28412 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary624 students

Porters Neck Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28411 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary605 students

Masonboro Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28409 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary575 students

Murrayville Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28411 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary569 students

Heyward C Bellamy Elem

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28412 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary556 students

The International School at Gregory

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28401 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–8Primary522 students

Wrightsboro Elementary

New Hanover County Schools

Wilmington, 28401 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary522 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,880

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review New Hanover County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?

Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in New Hanover County?

New Hanover County has a school score of 37/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in New Hanover County?

The high school graduation rate in New Hanover County is 88.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does New Hanover County spend per student?

New Hanover County spends $6,880 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Caldwell County

North Carolina

-0 pts

37/100

School score

Bertie County

North Carolina

-0 pts

37/100

School score

Rowan County

North Carolina

+1 pts

38/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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