Average
#1130 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 43% in state
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
Elementary School · Cape Fear Center for Inquiry · Wilmington, NC
A charter elementary school in Wilmington, NC where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2525 Wonder Way, Wilmington, NC 28401
- Math 69% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry score 68% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 77%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 5 points since 2020, reaching 69% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Cape Fear Center for Inquiry sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 61Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 33Some Transit
- Bike 45Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,004/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wilmington), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,159
Median home value
$263,000
Median rent
$1,183/mo
College educated
33.7%
Homeownership
40.5%
Poverty rate
22.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 407 | Compare → |
| Edwin a Alderman ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | K–5 | 1.6 mi | 274 | Compare → |
| Lake Forest AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–8 | 1.6 mi | 43 | Compare → |
| Pine Valley Umc Wee Care Preschool & KindergartenPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.6 mi | 10 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $11,259NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is listed in Cape Fear Center for Inquiry; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is a public elementary school in Wilmington, NC, part of Cape Fear Center for Inquiry, serving approximately 404 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,130 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
What grades does Cape Fear Center for Inquiry serve?
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Cape Fear Center for Inquiry?
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry has an enrollment of approximately 404 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry?
The student-teacher ratio at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cape Fear Center for Inquiry rank in NC?
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry ranks #1,130 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Cape Fear Center for Inquiry's MySchoolScout rating?
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cape Fear Center for Inquiry has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cape Fear Center for Inquiry a charter school?
Yes, Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Cape Fear Center for Inquiry a Title I school?
No, Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 404
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- New Hanover County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.4%
- Phone
- (910) 362-0000
- Area population (ZIP 28401)
- 21,820
- Area average commute
- 17.7 min
- Area median age
- 41.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28401; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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