Excellent
#437 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 17% in state
Wilmington Early College High
High School · New Hanover County Schools · Castle Hayne, NC
A New Hanover County Schools high school where students score 45 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4500 Blue Clay Rd WECHS Bldg.ND122, Castle Hayne, NC 28429
- Math 97% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Wilmington Early College High score 91% proficient, which is above 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 12 points since 2019, reaching 92% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 76% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 81% (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 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
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 Wilmington Early College High 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 45Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average602/100K
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
$73,259
Median home value
$231,900
Median rent
$870/mo
College educated
25.2%
Homeownership
88.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28429; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
New Hanover County Schools
- Schools in district
- 42
- Rank in district
- #16 of 41
- District spending per student
- $13,808NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Wilmington Early College High is listed in New Hanover County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wilmington Early College High
Wilmington Early College High is a public high school in Castle Hayne, NC, part of New Hanover County Schools, serving approximately 254 students in grades 9th-UG with a 23.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #437 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wilmington Early College High
What grades does Wilmington Early College High serve?
Wilmington Early College High serves students in grades 9th through UG.
How many students attend Wilmington Early College High?
Wilmington Early College High has an enrollment of approximately 254 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilmington Early College High?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilmington Early College High is 23.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wilmington Early College High rank in NC?
Wilmington Early College High ranks #437 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Wilmington Early College High's MySchoolScout rating?
Wilmington Early College High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Wilmington Early College High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wilmington Early College High has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Wilmington Early College High a charter school?
No, Wilmington Early College High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wilmington Early College High a Title I school?
No, Wilmington Early College High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wilmington Early College High?
98.8% of students at Wilmington Early College High 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
- 9th – UG
- Enrollment
- 254
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- New Hanover County
- Phone
- (910) 362-7789
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 28429)
- 9,083
- Area average commute
- 21.8 min
- Area median age
- 44.1
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 28429; 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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