Total enrollment
27,460
-524 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
New Hanover County
North Carolina · Public K-12
New Hanover County hosts 50 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 27,460 North Carolina students across 32 elementary, 7 middle, and 10 high.
7-year change in New Hanover County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
50
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
57%
was 61%
% Hispanic
19%
was 13%
% Black
16%
was 19%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
50
9 districts
Enrollment
27,460
NCES CCD
Median income
$75,166
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
67.1%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
32
12,367 students
Middle
7
5,153 students
High
10
8,938 students
Combined / other
1
1,002 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
New Hanover County Schools
24,791 students · 9 districts in New Hanover County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of New Hanover County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
45.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
40
17.9% under 18
Test scores in New Hanover County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 38 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Wilmington Early College High· 86.0%
- Wrightsville Beach Elem· 85.4%
- SEA-Tech· 83.3%
- Masonboro Elementary· 82.7%
- Ogden Elementary· 81.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- R Freeman Sch of Engineering· 11.3%
- A H Snipes Academy of Arts/Des· 22.9%
- Forest Hills Global Elementary· 23.7%
- Edwin A Alderman Elementary· 26.1%
- Williston Middle· 26.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emsley A Laney High | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 2,243 | · |
| John T Hoggard High | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 2,082 | · |
| Eugene Ashley High | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 1,893 | · |
| New Hanover High | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 1,437 | · |
| American Leadership Academy-Coastal | Wilmington | Combined | KG-11 | 1,002 | · |
| Charles P Murray Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 907 | · |
| Roland-Grise Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 878 | · |
| Holly Shelter Middle | Castle Hayne | Middle | 06-08 | 801 | · |
| M C S Noble Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 690 | · |
| Porters Neck Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 666 | · |
| Williston Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 666 | · |
| Ogden Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 619 | · |
| Emma B Trask Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 611 | · |
| Myrtle Grove Middle | Wilmington | Middle | 06-08 | 600 | · |
| Murrayville Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | PK-05 | 573 | · |
| Masonboro Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 564 | · |
| Heyward C Bellamy Elem | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 533 | · |
| Castle Hayne Elementary | Castle Hayne | Elementary | PK-05 | 531 | · |
| Edwin A Anderson Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 514 | · |
| The International School at Gregory | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 514 | · |
| Wrightsboro Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | PK-05 | 502 | · |
| College Park Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 470 | · |
| Dr John Codington Elem | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 470 | · |
| Pine Valley Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 465 | · |
| Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elem | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 461 | · |
| John J Blair Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | PK-05 | 451 | · |
| Sunset Park Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 450 | · |
| Cape Fear Center for Inquiry | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 395 | · |
| Carolina Beach Elementary | Carolina Beach | Elementary | KG-05 | 383 | · |
| Holly Tree Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 383 | · |
| Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington | Wilmington | High | 06-12 | 362 | · |
| Mary C Williams Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 355 | · |
| Bradley Creek Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 344 | · |
| A H Snipes Academy of Arts/Des | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 342 | · |
| Forest Hills Global Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 340 | · |
| Winter Park Model Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 311 | · |
| Wilmington School of the Arts | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-07 | 297 | · |
| Wrightsville Beach Elem | Wrightsville Beach | Elementary | KG-05 | 280 | · |
| Wilmington Early College High | Castle Hayne | High | 09-13 | 270 | · |
| Isaac M Bear Early College High School | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 260 | · |
| Edwin A Alderman Elementary | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 255 | · |
| R Freeman Sch of Engineering | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 241 | · |
| SEA-Tech | Castle Hayne | High | 09-13 | 227 | · |
| Island Montessori Charter School | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 220 | · |
| D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 162 | · |
| Career Readiness Academy at Mosley PLC | Wilmington | High | 09-12 | 150 | · |
| Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-05 | 140 | · |
| Wilmington Preparatory Academy | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 91 | · |
| Lake Forest Academy | Wilmington | Elementary | KG-08 | 45 | · |
| J. C. Roe Center | Wilmington | High | 06-12 | 14 | · |
Cities in New Hanover County
About New Hanover County
In North Carolina, New Hanover County is a middle-population county of about 235,229 residents. 50 public schools across the county teaches about 27,460 students between them.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $75,166, roughly 45% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 19% meaningfully above the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, New Hanover County comprises 32 elementary schools (12,367 students), 7 middle schools (5,153), 10 high schools (8,938), and 1 combined or other schools.
New Hanover County Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 24,791 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 27,984 students in SY 2017-18 versus 27,460 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, New Hanover County opened 1 school, going from 49 to 50. On the demographic side, Hispanic enrollment moved from 13% to 19% over the same window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for New Hanover County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
New Hanover County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data