Below Average
#2311 of 2,648 schools in NC
West Pender Middle
Middle School · Pender County Schools · Burgaw, NC
A Pender County Schools middle school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
10750 NC Hwy 53 West, Burgaw, NC 28425
- Math 33% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 33% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at West Pender Middle score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 33% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (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 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.4%
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 West Pender 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 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,644/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Burgaw), 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
$65,163
Median home value
$206,300
Median rent
$989/mo
College educated
23.2%
Homeownership
78.4%
Poverty rate
13.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28425; 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 → |
| Surf City MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | 6–8 | Not available | 750 | 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
- #16 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
West Pender Middle is listed in Pender County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About West Pender Middle
West Pender Middle is a public middle school in Burgaw, NC, part of Pender County Schools, serving approximately 188 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,311 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about West Pender Middle
What grades does West Pender Middle serve?
West Pender Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend West Pender Middle?
West Pender Middle has an enrollment of approximately 188 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Pender Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Pender Middle is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Pender Middle rank in NC?
West Pender Middle ranks #2,311 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is West Pender Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
West Pender Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 West Pender Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Pender Middle has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is West Pender Middle a charter school?
No, West Pender Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Pender Middle a Title I school?
No, West Pender Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Pender Middle?
98.4% of students at West Pender 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
- 188
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Pender County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.9%
- Phone
- (910) 283-5626
- Area population (ZIP 28425)
- 10,823
- Area average commute
- 29.8 min
- Area median age
- 44.7
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 28425; 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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