Average
#2018 of 2,648 schools in NC
Lake Forest Academy
Elementary School · New Hanover County Schools
1802 S 15th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Enrollment
43
Student-Teacher
3.3:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
43
Student-Teacher
3.3:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Wilmington
#35 of 43
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#1,280 of 1,474
In district
#34 of 41
New Hanover County Schools
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy is an alternative elementary school located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Serving kindergarten through eighth grade students, the school has a small enrollment of just 43 students and maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio at 3.3:1 with 13 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. As an alternative school, Lake Forest Academy provides unique educational opportunities for its community.
Academically, Lake Forest Academy currently ranks in the bottom tenth percentile among schools in North Carolina, with a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10 and an academic score of 1.0 out of 10. Test performance shows that only 8% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 7% are proficient or above in Math across all grades. While these scores suggest room for improvement, the school likely focuses on providing personalized support to meet each student's needs.
Lake Forest Academy is situated in a mid-size city setting within New Hanover County, offering its students access to various urban resources and community activities.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 43 students, Lake Forest Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
While current test scores at Lake Forest Academy are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
With a student-teacher ratio of 3.3:1, Lake Forest Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Lake Forest Academy — Students at Lake Forest Academy score 9% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
93%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 5 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.0/10.
How Lake Forest Academy Compares
See how Lake Forest Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 5% (2019) to 7.1% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 5% (2019) to 10% (2021).
Location
1802 S 15th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lake Forest Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. The International School at Gregory (rated 9.0/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Forest Hills Global Elementary (rated 7.2/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Cape Fear Center for Inquiry (rated 7.2/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Wilmington, see our Wilmington schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.5 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$52,159
Median Home Value
$263,000
Median Rent
$1,183/mo
Population
21,820
College Educated
33.7%
Homeownership
40.5%
Avg Commute
17.7 min
Poverty Rate
22.1%
Median Age
41.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Lake Forest Academy has a median household income of $52,159. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $263,000, with a median rent of $1,183/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CEDARWOOD ACADEMY Charlotte, NC | 5.3 |
| ST ANNE'S PARISH DAY SCHOOL Jacksonville, NC | 5.2 |
| PEACE ROSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Wilmington, NC | 5.4 |
| MILLS RIVER SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Mills River, NC | 5.5 |
| WAYNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Goldsboro, NC | 5.5 |
| EPHESUS JR ACADEMY Winston-Salem, NC | 5.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lake Forest Academy
What grades does Lake Forest Academy serve?
Lake Forest Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Lake Forest Academy?
Lake Forest Academy has an enrollment of approximately 43 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Academy is 3.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lake Forest Academy rank in NC?
Lake Forest Academy is ranked #2018 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Lake Forest Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Lake Forest Academy has a composite rating of 5.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Lake Forest Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Forest Academy has 7.4% math proficiency and 7.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Lake Forest Academy a charter school?
No, Lake Forest Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lake Forest Academy a Title I school?
No, Lake Forest Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lake Forest Academy?
93.0% of students at Lake Forest Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (4,004/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Wilmington). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 43
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 3.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 13
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 93.0%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- New Hanover County
- Phone
- (910) 772-2515
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
New Hanover County Schools- District Enrollment
- 25,028
- Schools in District
- 42
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,808
- District Rank
- #34 of 41
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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