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Home > North Carolina > Pender County

Pender County Schools

925 Penderlea Hwy
Burgaw, NC 28425

( shown in map)

:

7/

10

Top 50%

Tel: (910) 259-2187

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Pender County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category

Attribute

Graduation Rate

Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)

Community Size

Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 3,482 students in Pender County Schools. This district's average high is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.

Public High Schools in Pender County Schools have an score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and score of 61% (versus the 58% statewide average).

Public High School in Pender County School have a of 94%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.

The school with highest graduation rate is Topsail High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.

Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

18 Schools

758 Schools

# Students

11,022 Students

565,236 Students

# Teachers

680 Teachers

33,421 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

16:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
9	875	392
10	957	359
11	896	334
12	754	297

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">District Rank

Pender County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 89% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Pender County Schools
2023	#130
2022	#130
2021	#120
2019	#107
2018	#134
2017	#118
2016	#122
2015	#125
2014	#130
2013	#117
2012	#101

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(21-22)

55%

51%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2022	55%	51%
2021	49%	42%
2019	46%	42%
2018	42%	48%
2017	50%	47%
2016	48%	47%
2015	45%	44%
2014	39%	43%
2013	37%	42%
2012	84%	82%
2011	85%	82%

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51%

50%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2022	51%	50%
2021	50%	47%
2019	50%	46%
2018	42%	47%
2017	49%	46%
2016	48%	47%
2015	46%	46%
2014	45%	46%
2013	46%	45%
2012	75%	73%
2011	76%	70%

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67%

63%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2022	67%	63%
2021	68%	61%

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(21-22)

94%

86%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2022	94%	86%
2021	93%	85%
2020	93%	86%
2019	93%	85%
2018	89%	86%
2017	89%	88%
2016	90%	88%
2015	90%	87%
2014	88%	86%
2013	87%	85%
2012	87%	83%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.53

0.70

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.53	0.71
2022	0.53	0.70
2021	0.53	0.69
2020	0.53	0.68
2019	0.53	0.68
2018	0.51	0.67
2017	0.51	0.67
2016	0.50	0.66
2015	0.52	0.66
2014	0.50	0.65
2013	0.51	0.65
2012	0.51	0.64
2011	0.51	0.64
2010	0.49	0.61
2009	0.49	0.61
2008	0.50	0.61
2007	0.50	0.60
2006	0.49	0.58
2005	0.50	0.58
2004	0.50	0.57
2003	0.49	0.56
2002	0.49	0.55
2001	0.49	0.53
2000	0.49	0.53
1999	0.49	0.52
1998	0.49	0.52
1997	0.50	0.50
1996	0.50	0.50
1995	0.50	0.49
1994	0.50	0.48
1993	0.51	0.48
1992	0.51	0.48
1991	0.50	0.48

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% American Indian

n/a

1%

% Asian

n/a

4%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2008-2023)
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	1%	4%
2022	1%	4%
2021	1%	4%
2014	1%	3%
2013	2%	3%
2009	1%	2%
2008	1%	3%

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% Hispanic

17%

20%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	17%	20%
2022	17%	20%
2021	16%	19%
2020	16%	18%
2019	16%	18%
2018	14%	17%
2017	14%	17%
2016	13%	16%
2015	14%	16%
2014	11%	15%
2013	12%	14%
2012	12%	13%
2011	12%	13%
2010	10%	11%
2009	9%	11%
2008	9%	11%
2007	10%	10%
2006	8%	8%
2005	7%	8%
2004	6%	7%
2003	5%	6%
2002	5%	5%
2001	4%	4%
2000	3%	4%
1999	3%	3%
1998	3%	3%
1997	3%	2%
1996	2%	2%
1995	2%	2%
1994	2%	1%
1993	2%	1%

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% Black

11%

24%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	11%	25%
2022	11%	25%
2021	13%	25%
2020	14%	25%
2019	14%	25%
2018	15%	26%
2017	15%	26%
2016	16%	26%
2015	18%	26%
2014	16%	26%
2013	17%	26%
2012	19%	26%
2011	19%	26%
2010	23%	31%
2009	23%	31%
2008	23%	29%
2007	24%	29%
2006	25%	32%
2005	28%	31%
2004	30%	31%
2003	31%	31%
2002	31%	31%
2001	32%	31%
2000	33%	31%
1999	34%	31%
1998	34%	30%
1997	36%	31%
1996	37%	31%
1995	38%	30%
1994	39%	30%
1993	40%	30%
1992	41%	30%
1991	42%	30%

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% White

66%

45%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	66%	44%
2022	66%	45%
2021	65%	46%
2020	66%	48%
2019	66%	48%
2018	68%	49%
2017	68%	49%
2016	68%	50%
2015	58%	50%
2014	68%	51%
2013	67%	52%
2012	67%	53%
2011	67%	53%
2010	67%	54%
2009	67%	54%
2008	67%	55%
2007	66%	56%
2006	67%	56%
2005	65%	57%
2004	64%	58%
2003	64%	59%
2002	64%	60%
2001	64%	61%
2000	64%	61%
1999	63%	62%
1998	63%	63%
1997	61%	64%
1996	61%	64%
1995	60%	65%
1994	59%	66%
1993	58%	66%
1992	57%	66%
1991	57%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

n/a

% Two or more races

6%

6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	5%	6%
2022	5%	5%
2021	5%	5%
2020	4%	5%
2019	4%	5%
2018	3%	4%
2017	3%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	4%	4%
2014	3%	4%
2013	2%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $9,791 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $9,454 is less than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$108 MM

$17,307 MM

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$108 MM	$8 MM
2022	$99 MM	$8 MM
2021	$108 MM	$8 MM
2020	$99 MM	$8 MM
2019	$106 MM	$8 MM
2018	$88 MM	$8 MM
2017	$84 MM	$8 MM
2016	$80 MM	$8 MM
2015	$78 MM	$18 MM
2014	$71 MM	$10 MM
2012	$71 MM	$17 MM
2011	$88 MM	$19 MM
2010	$78 MM	$18 MM
2009	$81 MM	$19 MM
2008	$73 MM	$18 MM
2007	$64 MM	$18 MM
2006	$56 MM	$15 MM
2005	$54 MM	$15 MM
2004	$50 MM	$17 MM
2003	$50 MM	$17 MM
2002	$48 MM	$16 MM
2001	$51 MM	$17 MM
2000	$45 MM	$20 MM
1999	$38 MM	$23 MM
1998	$37 MM	$26 MM
1997	$34 MM	$34 MM
1996	$30 MM	$34 MM
1995	$27 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$104 MM

$17,964 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$104 MM	$8 MM
2022	$102 MM	$8 MM
2021	$104 MM	$8 MM
2020	$102 MM	$8 MM
2019	$110 MM	$7 MM
2018	$136 MM	$8 MM
2017	$115 MM	$9 MM
2016	$88 MM	$8 MM
2015	$75 MM	$18 MM
2014	$74 MM	$11 MM
2012	$75 MM	$16 MM
2011	$77 MM	$17 MM
2010	$75 MM	$18 MM
2009	$88 MM	$18 MM
2008	$82 MM	$17 MM
2007	$75 MM	$18 MM
2006	$60 MM	$15 MM
2005	$52 MM	$15 MM
2004	$50 MM	$16 MM
2003	$51 MM	$17 MM
2002	$54 MM	$15 MM
2001	$57 MM	$17 MM
2000	$46 MM	$20 MM
1999	$39 MM	$24 MM
1998	$46 MM	$26 MM
1997	$34 MM	$36 MM
1996	$30 MM	$33 MM
1995	$27 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$9,791

$11,192

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$9,872	$10,093
2022	$10,076	$9,918
2021	$11,288	$10,282
2020	$10,076	$9,918
2019	$11,275	$9,125
2018	$9,359	$9,419
2017	$8,879	$10,522
2016	$8,731	$9,128
2015	$8,594	$10,864
2014	$8,174	$9,046
2012	$8,341	$10,562
2011	$10,454	$12,703
2010	$9,342	$10,864
2009	$9,801	$11,105
2008	$8,987	$11,767
2007	$8,051	$9,479
2006	$7,603	$9,335
2005	$7,499	$8,913
2004	$7,167	$8,734
2003	$7,360	$8,577
2002	$7,034	$8,130
2001	$7,822	$7,294
2000	$7,021	$7,636
1999	$6,057	$7,252
1998	$6,057	$5,688
1997	$5,652	$5,690
1995	$4,985	$5,545
1992	$5,295	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$9,454

$11,617

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Pender County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$9,533	$9,807
2022	$10,348	$9,654
2021	$10,900	$9,990
2020	$10,348	$9,654
2019	$11,687	$8,949
2018	$14,402	$9,637
2017	$12,125	$11,583
2016	$9,548	$9,753
2015	$8,305	$10,591
2014	$8,529	$9,388
2012	$8,774	$10,336
2011	$9,157	$11,927
2010	$9,027	$10,591
2009	$10,668	$10,880
2008	$10,169	$11,136
2007	$9,487	$9,418
2006	$8,159	$8,813
2005	$7,315	$8,647
2004	$7,127	$8,413
2003	$7,469	$8,886
2002	$7,921	$7,903
2001	$8,613	$7,301
2000	$7,049	$7,650
1999	$6,214	$7,340
1998	$7,467	$5,663
1997	$5,685	$6,040
1995	$5,065	$5,570
1992	$5,801	$4,725

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Best Pender County Schools Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Pender Early College High School

(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
:

10/

10

Top 5%

Add to Compare

100 East Industrial Drive
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 362-7925

Gr: 9-13 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 34%

Rank: #22.

Topsail High School

(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

245 St. Johns Church Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
(910) 270-2755

Gr: 9-12 | 1,888 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 17%

Rank: #33.

Pender High School

(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 35-39%)
:

4/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

5380 Nc Hwy 53 W
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 259-0162

Gr: 9-12 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 57%

Rank: #44.

Heide Trask High School

(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
:

3/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

14328 Nc Hwy 210
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 602-6810

Gr: 9-12 | 734 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 18 schools
Grades: PK-13
Enrollment: 11,022 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 34%
: 94% (Top 1% in NC)
: Top 50%
: 55% (Top 50%)
: 51% (Top 50%)
: 67% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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