Wilmington Area High Schools Ranked by U.S. News

News Summary

The U.S. News & World Report has ranked Wilmington-area high schools based on various academic performance metrics. This year, North Carolina has 51 schools in the top 10% nationwide, with The Early College at Guilford leading the state. The rankings highlight a wide performance range across public high schools in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties, emphasizing the importance of educational resources and support in improving student outcomes.

Wilmington – Wilmington-area high schools have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report in their 2025 list, offering insights into the academic performance across North Carolina. The rankings are based on several metrics aimed at measuring the effectiveness of high schools, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

The U.S. News evaluation encompassed more than 24,000 high schools nationwide, highlighting 587 institutions from North Carolina alone. The state holds the 28th position in the national ranking among states, with 51 high schools managing to secure a spot in the top 10% on the national level. The top-ranked school in North Carolina is The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, which achieved a commendable national ranking of 31. In contrast, Basis Tucson North in Tucson, Arizona was recognized as the top school in the country.

Public high schools within Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties displayed a range of rankings, reflecting diverse levels of academic achievement.

Performance Overview of Wilmington-Area High Schools

• School A:
  • State Ranking: No. 85
  • National Ranking: No. 3,144
  • Overall Score: 82.44
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 1,888
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
• School B:
  • State Ranking: No. 89
  • National Ranking: No. 3,320
  • Overall Score: 81.45
  • Graduation Rate: 88%
  • Enrollment: 2,178
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
• School C:
  • State Ranking: No. 115
  • National Ranking: No. 4,180
  • Overall Score: 76.65
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 188
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• School D:
  • State Ranking: No. 117
  • National Ranking: No. 4,194
  • Overall Score: 76.57
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 251
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1
• School E:
  • State Ranking: No. 122
  • National Ranking: No. 4,194
  • Overall Score: 75.6
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 241
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1
• School F:
  • State Ranking: No. 136
  • National Ranking: No. 4,752
  • Overall Score: 73.45
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 322
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 28:1
• School G:
  • State Ranking: No. 182
  • National Ranking: No. 6,056
  • Overall Score: 66.17
  • Graduation Rate: 88%
  • Enrollment: 1,899
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
• School H:
  • State Ranking: No. 234
  • National Ranking: No. 7,311
  • Overall Score: 59.16
  • Graduation Rate: 82%
  • Enrollment: 1,512
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• School I:
  • State Ranking: No. 235
  • National Ranking: No. 7,337
  • Overall Score: 59.01
  • Graduation Rate: 84%
  • Enrollment: 1,182
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• School J:
  • State Ranking: No. 280
  • National Ranking: No. 8,245
  • Overall Score: 53.94
  • Graduation Rate: 92%
  • Enrollment: 2,248
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• School K:
  • State Ranking: No. 298
  • National Ranking: No. 8,549
  • Overall Score: 52.24
  • Graduation Rate: Greater than 95%
  • Enrollment: 228
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• School L:
  • State Ranking: No. 319
  • National Ranking: No. 9,081
  • Overall Score: 49.27
  • Graduation Rate: 81%
  • Enrollment: 1,560
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
• School M:
  • State Ranking: No. 324
  • National Ranking: No. 9,152
  • Overall Score: 48.87
  • Graduation Rate: 80%
  • Enrollment: 1,515
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• School N:
  • State Ranking: No. 404
  • National Ranking: No. 11,746
  • Overall Score: 34.38
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Enrollment: 734
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• School O:
  • State Ranking: Tied with the lowest ranking schools
  • National Ranking: Tied with the lowest ranking schools
  • Overall Score: Less than 25
  • Graduation Rate: 92%
  • Enrollment: 672
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1

Context and Significance

The U.S. News & World Report rankings serve as a crucial tool for parents and students when choosing a suitable high school. By evaluating various factors such as graduation rates and the academic rigor of institutions, the rankings enable stakeholders to make informed decisions. The performance of Wilmington-area high schools shows significant variability, reflecting distinct educational environments and challenges present within the region. This report emphasizes the need for ongoing support and potential investment in educational resources to improve student outcomes across all schools.

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Additional Resources

• Star News Online
• Wikipedia: Wilmington, North Carolina
• NC News Online
• Google Search: North Carolina high schools ranking
• Delaware Online
• Google Scholar: High school rankings
• Boston Magazine
• Encyclopedia Britannica: High school education