Very Good
#864 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 33% in state
Surf City Middle
Middle School · Pender County Schools · Hampstead, NC
A Pender County Schools middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
12345-B Literacy Lane, Hampstead, NC 28443
- Math 73% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 64% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Surf City Middle score 68% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 12 points since 2020, reaching 68% in 2025, across a 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
23.9%
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 Middle 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
$89,392
Median home value
$356,500
Median rent
$1,372/mo
College educated
39.6%
Homeownership
81.2%
Poverty rate
8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28443; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgaw MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | Not available | 228 | Compare → |
| Cape Fear MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | 6–8 | Not available | 449 | Compare → |
| Pender Innovative Learning AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 2.9 | K–12 | Not available | 48 | Compare → |
| Topsail MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | 5–8 | Not available | 855 | 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
- #7 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 Middle is listed in Pender County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Surf City Middle
Surf City Middle is a public middle school in Hampstead, NC, part of Pender County Schools, serving approximately 750 students in grades 6th-8th with a 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #864 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 Middle
What grades does Surf City Middle serve?
Surf City Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Surf City Middle?
Surf City Middle has an enrollment of approximately 750 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Surf City Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Surf City Middle is 21.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Surf City Middle rank in NC?
Surf City Middle ranks #864 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Surf City Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Surf City Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Surf City Middle has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025).
Is Surf City Middle a charter school?
No, Surf City Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Surf City Middle a Title I school?
No, Surf City Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Surf City Middle?
23.9% of students at Surf City Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 750
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Pender County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.7%
- Phone
- (910) 928-0087
- Area population (ZIP 28443)
- 27,203
- Area average commute
- 30.6 min
- Area median age
- 40.5
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 28443; 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
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