Very Good
#558 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 21% in state
Surf City Elementary
Elementary School · Pender County Schools · Hampstead, NC
A Pender County Schools elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
12345-A Literacy Lane, Hampstead, NC 28445
- Math 64% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 61% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 17:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Surf City Elementary score 63% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 63% across the 8-year record (2018–2025).
Show all 6 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2018-2025) · reading/ELA 61% (multi-year average, 2018-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 18 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
34.5%
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 Surf City 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 37Somewhat 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
$89,250
Median home value
$332,500
Median rent
$1,318/mo
College educated
42%
Homeownership
79.5%
Poverty rate
3.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28445; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 543 | 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 → |
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
- #5 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
Surf City Elementary is listed in Pender County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Surf City Elementary
Surf City Elementary is a public elementary school in Hampstead, NC, part of Pender County Schools, serving approximately 850 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #558 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Surf City Elementary
What grades does Surf City Elementary serve?
Surf City Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Surf City Elementary?
Surf City Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 850 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Surf City Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Surf City Elementary is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Surf City Elementary rank in NC?
Surf City Elementary ranks #558 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Surf City Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Surf City Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Surf City Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Surf City Elementary has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025).
Is Surf City Elementary a charter school?
No, Surf City Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Surf City Elementary a Title I school?
No, Surf City Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Surf City Elementary?
34.5% of students at Surf City 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 850
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Pender County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.8%
- Phone
- (910) 928-0067
- Area population (ZIP 28445)
- 9,784
- Area average commute
- 29.4 min
- Area median age
- 41.3
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 28445; 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, 2018-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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