Pender County Schools School District
School District · Burgaw, North Carolina
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
19
9 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
11,075
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
19
9 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
11,075
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#81 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$11,425
$1,687 vs North Carolina median
District size
11,075 students
Much larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Pender County Schools ranks #81 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Pender County Schools's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Rocky Point Elementary (7.7/10), North Topsail Elementary (7.4/10), and Penderlea Elementary (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.7/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Pender County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pender County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pender County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Point Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | North Topsail Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Penderlea Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Cape Fear Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Pender Early College High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Topsail High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Cape Fear Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Heide Trask High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Topsail Middle | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Surf City Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Pender County Schools
Pender County Schools is a Burgaw, North Carolina school district serving 19 schools.The district educates 11,075 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1. District-level spending was $11,425 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Pender County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Rocky Point Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.7/10.
In standardized testing, Pender County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 55.0% and ELA proficiency of 51.5%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Pender County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Pender County Schools with test data.
Schools in Pender County Schools
19 schoolsElementary Schools9
Middle Schools5
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Burgaw
- Total Enrollment
- 11,075
- Teachers (FTE)
- 684
- District spending per student
- $11,425NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Pender County Schools?
Pender County Schools has 19 schools in total — 9 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Pender County Schools?
The average composite rating for Pender County Schools is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Pender County Schools?
Pender County Schools's district-level spending was $11,425 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pender County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Pender County Schools is 16.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Pender County Schools?
Rocky Point Elementary is the highest-rated school in Pender County Schools with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What are the test scores in Pender County Schools?
Across schools in Pender County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 55.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 51.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Pender County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Pender County Schools has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 19 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 55.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 51.5%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Pender County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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