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

No. Use the Pender 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 Pender 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 Pender County?

Start with the 19 listed public schools and 1 district entry, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Pender County Schools & Education

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

Pender County, North Carolina

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

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,402

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#23

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Pender County

Measured School Summary

Pender County performs at an average level with a school score of 50/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.0%.

Funding Context

At $6,402 per pupil, Pender County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 24% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Pender 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

19 public schools and 1 district 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

50/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #23 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

93.0%

5.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,402

$567 below the state average

School coverage

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Pender County has 19 public schools across 1 district, 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 Pender 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

Pender County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 19 of 19 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#23

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points above 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.

Pender County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

10,941 students

Elementary 9Middle 5High 4Other 1

19 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Pender County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 19 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 Pender County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

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

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in Pender County, North Carolina

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Unified Rural School District

Pender County operates a single, unified district with 19 public schools serving 10,941 students. The system is comprised of 9 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools, along with one specialized center. This streamlined structure ensures consistent educational standards from the coast to the inland countryside.

One District, Ten Thousand Students

Pender County Schools manages all 10,941 students in the county, with no charter schools currently in operation. This single-district model allows for a centralized focus on student achievement and resource allocation. All students benefit from the same district-wide programs and community support.

Spacious Campuses in a Rural Setting

With 18 of its 19 schools located in rural areas, Pender County offers a truly scenic educational experience. The average school size is 576 students, but Topsail High stands out as a major hub with 1,777 students. This contrast provides both a large-school experience at the high school level and smaller, community-focused elementary schools.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Pender County

Reported Enrollment

10,941

19 schools reporting

School Districts

district

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary9

Middle5

High4

Other1

1 School District in Pender County

Pender County Schools

Guide

19 schools

10,941 students enrolled

Open district guide

19 Public Schools in Pender County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 19 of 19 matching schools

Public schools in Pender County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Topsail High	Profile	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,777
Surf City Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28445Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	808
Topsail Middle	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	807
Heide Trask High	Record	Pender County Schools	Rocky Point, 28457Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	720
Surf City Middle	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	705
Pender High	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Distant	9–12	High	677
Topsail Annandale Elementary School	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	631
North Topsail Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Town: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	608
South Topsail Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Hampstead, 28443Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	557
Cape Fear Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Rocky Point, 28457Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	545
C.F. Pope Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	532
Penderlea Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Willard, 28478Rural: Distant	PK–8	Primary	495
Malpass Corner Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	480
Cape Fear Middle	Record	Pender County Schools	Rocky Point, 28457Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	462
Rocky Point Elementary	Record	Pender County Schools	Rocky Point, 28457Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	399
Burgaw Middle	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	257
Pender Early College High	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Fringe	9–UG	High	203
West Pender Middle	Record	Pender County Schools	Burgaw, 28425Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	179
Pender Innovative Learning Academy	Record	Pender County Schools	Rocky Point, 28457Rural: Fringe	KG–12	Alternative	99

Topsail High

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,777 students

Surf City Elementary

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28445 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary808 students

Topsail Middle

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle807 students

Heide Trask High

Pender County Schools

Rocky Point, 28457 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High720 students

Surf City Middle

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle705 students

Pender High

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High677 students

Topsail Annandale Elementary School

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary631 students

North Topsail Elementary

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary608 students

South Topsail Elementary

Pender County Schools

Hampstead, 28443 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary557 students

Cape Fear Elementary

Pender County Schools

Rocky Point, 28457 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary545 students

C.F. Pope Elementary

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary532 students

Penderlea Elementary

Pender County Schools

Willard, 28478 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary495 students

Malpass Corner Elementary

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary480 students

Cape Fear Middle

Pender County Schools

Rocky Point, 28457 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle462 students

Rocky Point Elementary

Pender County Schools

Rocky Point, 28457 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary399 students

Burgaw Middle

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle257 students

Pender Early College High

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–UGHigh203 students

West Pender Middle

Pender County Schools

Burgaw, 28425 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle179 students

Pender Innovative Learning Academy

Pender County Schools

Rocky Point, 28457 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–12Alternative99 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,402

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Pender 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 Pender County?

Pender County has a school score of 50/100, which is a midrange 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 Pender County?

The high school graduation rate in Pender County is 93.0%, 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 Pender County spend per student?

Pender County spends $6,402 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Pender County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Pender County, North Carolina?

What are the major school districts in Pender County, North Carolina?

What is the school experience like in Pender County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Graham County

North Carolina

+0 pts

50/100

School score

Montgomery County

North Carolina

+1 pts

51/100

School score

Polk County

North Carolina

-1 pts

49/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 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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