Holly Tree Elementary

Holly Tree Elementary is a close-knit K-5 school in Wilmington, North Carolina, overseen by New Hanover County Schools. The school teaches 383 students in grades K through 5.

Holly Tree Elementary is one of 42 schools operated by New Hanover County Schools, a district that educates 24,791 students overall.

On demographics, Holly Tree Elementary shows that the largest single group is White, at 75% of enrollment. The remainder breaks down as 11% Hispanic, 7% Black, 4% multiracial. That composition is broadly in line with New Hanover County as a whole.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Holly Tree Elementary has 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.6:1. The state averages around 14.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 26% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is south of New Hanover County's rate of about 67%.

With demographic context factored in, Holly Tree Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 70.9% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 73.3%.

In the surrounding community, New Hanover County reports that the typical household earns roughly $75,166 per year, about 45% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across New Hanover County's 50 public schools (combined enrollment of about 27,460 students), Holly Tree Elementary is one campus in the mix.

John T Hoggard High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.8 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Holly Tree Elementary. On composite proficiency, Holly Tree Elementary comes 3rd of 8 in the immediate cluster, ahead of the nearby-schools average of 65.8%.

The school occupies an urban site.

Over the past 7-year window. Holly Tree Elementary's enrollment has decreased 28% since 2018, when it stood at 533 (now 383). Hispanic enrollment moved from 6% to 11% across the same window. Class-load math has narrowed: from 16.1:1 in 2018 to 13.6:1 in 2025.

On allk12, recent activity here tends to focus on school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.