Average
#1869 of 2,648 schools in NC
Penderlea Elementary
Elementary School · Pender County Schools · Willard, NC
A Pender County Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 8th.
11 Garden Road, Willard, NC 28478
- Math 54% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 41% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Penderlea Elementary score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 48% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (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).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 Penderlea Elementary 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated745/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$64,830
Median home value
$168,700
Median rent
$751/mo
College educated
13.9%
Homeownership
87.7%
Poverty rate
15%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28478; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Pender County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Topsail ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 565 | Compare → |
| Rocky Point ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 402 | Compare → |
| South Topsail ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 610 | Compare → |
| Surf City ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | Not available | 850 | 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.
Pender County Schools
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #12 of 19
- District spending per student
- $11,425NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Penderlea Elementary is listed in Pender County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Penderlea Elementary
Penderlea Elementary is a public elementary school in Willard, NC, part of Pender County Schools, serving approximately 484 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,869 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Penderlea Elementary
What grades does Penderlea Elementary serve?
Penderlea Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Penderlea Elementary?
Penderlea Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 484 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penderlea Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Penderlea Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penderlea Elementary rank in NC?
Penderlea Elementary ranks #1,869 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Penderlea Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Penderlea Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Penderlea Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Penderlea Elementary has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Penderlea Elementary a charter school?
No, Penderlea Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penderlea Elementary a Title I school?
No, Penderlea Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penderlea Elementary?
99.4% of students at Penderlea Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 484
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Pender County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.1%
- Phone
- (910) 285-2761
- Area population (ZIP 28478)
- 4,591
- Area average commute
- 32.4 min
- Area median age
- 47.5
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 28478; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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