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Pender High

Q: Is Pender High a good school?

Pender High ranks in the bottom 10.1% of North Carolina high schools.

Q: How many students attend Pender High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 648 students attended Pender High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Pender High?

Students at Pender High are 41% White, 31% African American, 23% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Q: What schools feed into Pender High?

Pender High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Malpass Corner Elementary Elementary : Penderlea Elementary Middle : West Pender Middle

Public Grades 9-12

576^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 10% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Pender High is a public high school located in Burgaw, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 672 students. The school is part of the Pender County Schools district, which is ranked 115 out of 242 districts in the state.

Academically, Pender High has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina high schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on end-of-course (EOC) exams is significantly below the Pender County Schools and North Carolina state averages across all subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Pender High's proficiency rates were 28.2% in Biology, 29.2% in English II, 6.6% in Math I, and 47% in Math III, compared to the Pender County Schools averages of 56.7%, 63.8%, 40.1%, and 68.5%, respectively. In contrast, the nearby Heide Trask High and Pender Early College High both outperformed Pender High on EOC exams, with Pender Early College High achieving exceptional results (over 90% proficiency in most subjects).

Pender High's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 81.4% and 92.7% over the past few years, with the most recent rate being 86.9% in 2023-2024, slightly below the Pender County Schools district average of around 90%. The school has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 99.55% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. The school's performance on EOC exams is particularly low for subgroups such as African American, Hispanic, and English Language Learner students, while the performance for disabled students is relatively stronger.

648

Students ?

22.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,022

Per pupil spending ?

98.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5380 NC Hwy 53 W
Burgaw, NC 28425

(910) 259-0162

District: Pender County Schools

Feeder schools for Pender High:

Elementary:	Malpass Corner Elementary
	Penderlea Elementary
Middle:	West Pender Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.9%

African American:

31.0%

Hispanic:

23.3%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Pender High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2015 → 10th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (29% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the North Carolina average (81% vs 88%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg59%

North Carolina avg53%

576^th of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 25 pts since 2015

From bottom 35% (2015) to bottom 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4High Schools in the Pender County Schools

115^th of 242Pender County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	13.9	576 of 641	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.5	534 of 640	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	523 of 626	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.8	478 of 621	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.1	432 of 594	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.5	376 of 514	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.8	253 of 469	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	23.7	347 of 476	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	18.8	391 of 507	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.8	343 of 531	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	20.7	349 of 451	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.5	343 of 505	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.1	323 of 502	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	34.6	388 of 506	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	54.2	245 of 499	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	39.7	342 of 490	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	37.8	339 of 477	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	53.1	201 of 453	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.7	196 of 431	54.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	380 of 440	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.6	369 of 437	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	371 of 434	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.0	324 of 430	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.2	310 of 364	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.5	257 of 369	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.5	150 of 359	58.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	40.7	162 of 330	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.6	131 of 334	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.8	204 of 349	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	16.3	263 of 273	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.3	214 of 262	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.8	126 of 226	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	13.5	550 of 610	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	493 of 602	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	517 of 588	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	462 of 594	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.8	335 of 475	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.4	368 of 475	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.6	244 of 449	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	2.3	411 of 412	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.1	368 of 403	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	33.2	334 of 403	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	46.4	272 of 398	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.7	228 of 337	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.3	296 of 325	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	15.5	431 of 462	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	397 of 454	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	355 of 449	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.3	290 of 436	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.5	98 of 370	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	38.7	192 of 354	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.4	132 of 340	61.2%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	70.0	7 of 44	84.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	14.4	562 of 606	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	534 of 613	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	495 of 597	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.7	360 of 544	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.9	239 of 432	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.5	259 of 446	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.4	203 of 424	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	13.0	552 of 601	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	532 of 607	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	493 of 602	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.9	473 of 585	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.2	329 of 481	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.5	365 of 488	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.0	299 of 463	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	18.5	333 of 349	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	12.2	502 of 542	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.9	493 of 553	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	494 of 537	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	479 of 534	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.2	330 of 439	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	378 of 444	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.2	227 of 427	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2019)84th percentile+57 vs school

Disabled (2022)51st percentile+28 vs school

African American (2025)14th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile~ school

Male (2025)8th percentile~ school

White (2025)7th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)7th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)7th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2024)5th percentile-12 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)4th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)<1st percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III47%-19 vs state

English II29%-30 vs state

Biology28%-20 vs state

Math I7%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pender High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pender High	Public	9-12	5380 NC Hwy 53 W	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 259-0162	648	29	22.1	98.5%	265 (40.9%)	201 (31.0%)	151 (23.3%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.7%)	13.9	576^th of 641 public high schools	10.1%		17.5	534^th of 640 public high schools	16.6%	42	28.2	29.2	6.6	47.0	$10,022	$530	$9,492
Pender Early College High	Public	9-12	100 East Industrial Drive	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 362-7925	215	4	50.8	98.6%	140 (65.1%)	10 (4.7%)	50 (23.3%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.6%)	94.3	30^th of 641 public high schools	95.3%		95.5	22^nd of 640 public high schools	96.6%	8	91.1	98.2	90.9	94.9	$7,865	$425	$7,440
Heide Trask High	Public	9-12	14328 NC Hwy 210	Rocky Point	28457	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 602-6810	732	33	21.8	99.6%	300 (41.0%)	111 (15.2%)	281 (38.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.9%)	18.8	530^th of 641 public high schools	17.3%		33.3	420^th of 640 public high schools	34.4%	110	23.0	47.6	21.2	42.2	$10,484	$771	$9,712
Wallace-Rose Hill High	Public	9-12	602 High School Road	Teachey	28464	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 285-7501	738	42	17.4	99.6%	140 (19.0%)	205 (27.8%)	364 (49.3%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.0%)	11.5	590^th of 641 public high schools	8.0%		18.8	524^th of 640 public high schools	18.1%	66	15.8	30.4	17.0	43.4	$12,968	$891	$12,077
SEA-Technical	Public	9-12	5301 Sidbury Road	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 530-6300	227	17	13.6	98.7%	144 (63.4%)	26 (11.5%)	38 (16.7%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.2%)	89.1	86^th of 641 public high schools	86.6%		87	104^th of 640 public high schools	83.8%	18	75.0	83.3	85.7	98.4	$13,361	$253	$13,108
Wilmington Early College High	Public	9-12	4500 Blue Clay Rd	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 362-7789	270	13	20.6	98.9%	146 (54.1%)	57 (21.1%)	48 (17.8%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.1%)	84.2	114^th of 641 public high schools	82.2%		88.3	95^th of 640 public high schools	85.2%	19	62.5	86.0	70.0	96.9	$8,673	$273	$8,400
Emsley A Laney High	Public	9-12	2700 N College Rd	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2089	2,243	111	20.2	95.3%	1,243 (55.4%)	409 (18.2%)	415 (18.5%)	40 (1.8%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	132 (5.9%)	42.9	351^st of 641 public high schools	45.2%		47.4	315^th of 640 public high schools	50.8%	36	38.9	60.2	32.2	65.9	$8,690	$533	$8,157

Frequently Asked Questions about Pender High

How many students attend Pender High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 648 students attended Pender High.

What is the racial makeup of Pender High?

Students at Pender High are 41% White, 31% African American, 23% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Pender High in?

Pender County Schools

What schools feed into Pender High?

Pender High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Malpass Corner Elementary
Elementary : Penderlea Elementary
Middle : West Pender Middle

Is Pender High a good school?

Pender High ranks in the bottom 10.1% of North Carolina high schools.

Rate Pender High!

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Schools in Burgaw, NC

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.