Excellent
#32 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 1% in state
Wrightsville Beach Elem
Elementary School · New Hanover County Schools · Wrightsville Beach, NC
A New Hanover County Schools elementary school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
220 Coral Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
- Math 94% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Wrightsville Beach Elem score 89% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 5 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 90% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 90% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 84% (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
12.8%
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 Wrightsville Beach Elem 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 25Car-Dependent
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,867/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wrightsville Beach), 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
$165,682
Median home value
$1,049,500
Median rent
$1,892/mo
College educated
72%
Homeownership
81.2%
Poverty rate
3.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28480; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Creek ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | K–5 | 2.9 mi | 381 | Compare → |
| Friends School of WilmingtonPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–8 | 2.9 mi | 139 | Compare → |
| St Mark Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.8private | PK–8 | 3.1 mi | 501 | Compare → |
| Ogden ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | K–5 | 3.6 mi | 607 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
New Hanover County Schools
- Schools in district
- 42
- Rank in district
- #1 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
Wrightsville Beach Elem is listed in New Hanover County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wrightsville Beach Elem
Wrightsville Beach Elem is a public elementary school in Wrightsville Beach, NC, part of New Hanover County Schools, serving approximately 273 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #32 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 90% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wrightsville Beach Elem
What grades does Wrightsville Beach Elem serve?
Wrightsville Beach Elem serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Wrightsville Beach Elem?
Wrightsville Beach Elem has an enrollment of approximately 273 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wrightsville Beach Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Wrightsville Beach Elem is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wrightsville Beach Elem rank in NC?
Wrightsville Beach Elem ranks #32 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Wrightsville Beach Elem's MySchoolScout rating?
Wrightsville Beach Elem has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Wrightsville Beach Elem?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wrightsville Beach Elem has 90% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Wrightsville Beach Elem a charter school?
No, Wrightsville Beach Elem is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wrightsville Beach Elem a Title I school?
No, Wrightsville Beach Elem is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wrightsville Beach Elem?
12.8% of students at Wrightsville Beach Elem 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 273
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- New Hanover County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.4%
- Phone
- (910) 256-3171
- Area population (ZIP 28480)
- 2,727
- Area median age
- 55.6
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 28480; 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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