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Carolina Beach Elementary

Public Grades K-5

83^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 94% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Carolina Beach Elementary is a K–5 public school in Carolina Beach, NC, serving about 383 students in New Hanover County Schools. The school holds a 5-star rating and ranks 83rd out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the 94th percentile statewide. That makes it one of the top elementary schools in the southern Wilmington/beach corridor, trailing only Masonboro Elementary (rank 23) and Dr John Codington Elementary (rank 45) among nearby schools, while clearly outperforming Heyward C Bellamy Elementary (rank 147), Holly Tree Elementary (rank 191), and Edwin A Anderson Elementary (rank 209).

Carolina Beach exceeds its district and state averages on every tested grade and subject. The 5th grade math proficiency rate of 96.1% and 5th grade science rate of 93.5% are both more than 30 points above state averages, and they even surpass those of the two higher-ranked neighboring schools. The school also gets strong results with students who often face challenges: economically disadvantaged students ranked in the 93rd–98th percentile statewide over the past two years, and special education students ranked above the 90th percentile in both available years. Chronic absenteeism is strikingly low at 11.8%, roughly half the district rate of 23.8% and state rate of 24.2%, reflecting a strong culture of attendance that supports learning.

Carolina Beach has improved steadily for a decade, rising from the 81st percentile in 2015–2016 to the 94th percentile today, with 5-star ratings in consecutive years. It achieves this while spending about $10,071 per student — less than nearby Pine Valley Elementary and Mary C Williams Elementary — which points to efficient, effective programming rather than extra funding. For parents exploring elementary options in the area, Carolina Beach Elementary stands out as a consistently high-achieving school that serves a broad range of learners well and keeps getting stronger.

383

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

33.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

400 South 4th St
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

(910) 458-4340

District: New Hanover County Schools

Students who attend Carolina Beach Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Charles P Murray Middle
High:	Eugene Ashley High

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.1%

Hispanic:

4.7%

Two or more races:

2.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Carolina Beach Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 81st percentile in 2016 → 94th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (84% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school84%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

83^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 13 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

84^th of 246New Hanover 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
2026	92.2	83 of 1492	94.4%	★★★★★
2025	91.2	91 of 1490	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	86.2	163 of 1505	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	84.0	184 of 1502	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	80.6	240 of 1514	84.1%	★★★★☆
2021	78.4	268 of 1489	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.6	159 of 1473	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	188 of 1434	86.9%	★★★★☆
2017	78.4	251 of 1429	82.4%	★★★★☆
2016	77.8	270 of 1425	81.1%	★★★★☆
2015	82.8	190 of 1440	86.8%	★★★★☆
2014	78.2	268 of 1390	80.7%	★★★★☆
2013	84.6	163 of 1403	88.4%	★★★★☆
2012	72.1	363 of 1388	73.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.9	326 of 1381	76.4%	★★★★☆
2010	69.5	403 of 1363	70.4%	★★★★☆
2009	71.8	362 of 1354	73.3%	★★★★☆
2008	65.1	448 of 1324	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.2	365 of 1293	71.8%	★★★★☆
2006	66.6	398 of 1276	68.8%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	51.0	242 of 634	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.2	122 of 1447	91.6%	★★★★★
2025	85.2	149 of 1451	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	85.9	140 of 1455	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	81.1	199 of 1459	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	290 of 1458	80.1%	★★★★☆
2021	71.7	334 of 1440	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	75.8	286 of 1424	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	77.9	260 of 1405	81.5%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	135 of 743	81.8%	★★★★☆
2025	70.6	110 of 710	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	71.8	16 of 669	97.6%	★★★★★
2023	59.1	302 of 582	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.4	413 of 612	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	66.7	8 of 30	73.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	104 of 1434	92.7%	★★★★★
2025	94.2	22 of 1437	98.5%	★★★★★
2024	71.9	287 of 1450	80.2%	★★★★☆
2023	77.3	214 of 1437	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	67.9	310 of 1366	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	83.1	117 of 1329	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	80.9	147 of 1361	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	71.2	288 of 1332	78.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	92.6	57 of 1451	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	92.3	76 of 1450	94.8%	★★★★★
2024	83.1	186 of 1464	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	84.0	169 of 1461	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	81.9	202 of 1464	86.2%	★★★★☆
2021	79.9	235 of 1444	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	90.5	86 of 1430	94.0%	★★★★★
2018	84.7	161 of 1413	88.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	65 of 821	92.1%	★★★★★
2024	78.6	78 of 801	90.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.8	216 of 1146	81.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.1	238 of 1172	79.7%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	335 of 1166	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.7	363 of 1183	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	436 of 1194	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.0	493 of 1172	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.7	323 of 1183	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.6	328 of 1178	72.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2026)96th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)92nd percentile-3 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)82nd percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)81st percentile-13 vs school

Homeless (2019)73rd percentile-16 vs school

Disabled (2022)62nd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science94%+26 vs state

Mathematics87%+24 vs state

Reading78%+22 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

This is the BEST school by far that my grandchildren have ever attended! The only warning would be the lice eppidemic that infests this entire county. Close Quote

Schools Near Carolina Beach Elementary

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Carolina Beach Elementary	Public	K-5	400 South 4th St	Carolina Beach	28428	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 458-4340	383	27	14.1	33.4%	349 (91.1%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.7%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.1%)	92.2	83^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	94.4%		91.2	91^st of 1490 public elementary schools	93.9%	8	82.3	81.3	96.1				71.0	79.7	81.8				93.5		$10,071	$617	$9,454
Edwin A Anderson Elementary	Public	K-5	455 Halyburton Memorial Parkwa	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 798-3311	514	39	13.1	47.7%	395 (76.8%)	20 (3.9%)	62 (12.1%)	6 (1.2%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (5.1%)	82.5	209^th of 1492 public elementary schools	86.0%		82.3	209^th of 1490 public elementary schools	86.0%		75.3	74.5	80.6				66.3	67.3	75.3				88.2		$10,418	$855	$9,563
Island Montessori Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	6339 Carolina Beach Rd	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	Island Montessori Charter	Yes	No	No	No	(910) 795-4860	220	19	11.5		185 (84.1%)	1 (0.5%)	14 (6.4%)	5 (2.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.4%)	23.9	1209^th of 1492 public elementary schools	19.0%		43	864^th of 1490 public elementary schools	42.0%	345	44.0	40.0	50.0	22.7	41.7	33.3	44.0	56.0	41.7	50.0	66.7	57.1	50.0	61.9
Heyward C Bellamy Elementary	Public	K-5	70 Sanders Rd	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2039	533	35	15.0	41.1%	377 (70.7%)	25 (4.7%)	88 (16.5%)	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.6%)	88	147^th of 1492 public elementary schools	90.1%		88.1	136^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.9%	11	84.3	85.2	91.5				68.7	68.0	75.6				89.0		$10,008	$775	$9,233
Mary C Williams Elementary	Public	K-5	801 Silver Lake Rd	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 350-2150	355	31	11.2	99.2%	140 (39.4%)	40 (11.3%)	156 (43.9%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	37.3	957^th of 1492 public elementary schools	35.9%		47.1	800^th of 1490 public elementary schools	46.3%	157	59.7	62.7	52.6				46.3	55.2	43.9				52.6		$12,184	$1,615	$10,569
Dr John Codington Elementary	Public	K-5	4321 Carolina Beach Road	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 790-2236	470	31	15.0	26.6%	374 (79.6%)	26 (5.5%)	32 (6.8%)	8 (1.7%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	25 (5.3%)	94.8	45^th of 1492 public elementary schools	97.0%		86.7	149^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.0%	104	98.6	81.9	84.8				87.3	84.7	78.8				93.9		$10,516	$680	$9,836
Pine Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	440 John S Mosby Dr	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 350-2121	465	29	15.8	99.4%	311 (66.9%)	61 (13.1%)	49 (10.5%)	8 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.5%)	63.2	532^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	64.3%		68.2	424^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.5%	108	72.5	61.9	69.2				55.1	60.3	66.7				67.9		$10,137	$902	$9,235
Masonboro Elementary	Public	K-5	3518 Masonboro Loop Road	Wilmington	28409	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 790-2355	564	35	15.9	20.6%	460 (81.6%)	10 (1.8%)	55 (9.8%)	22 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (2.8%)	96.3	23^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	98.5%		96.4	34^th of 1490 public elementary schools	97.7%	11	93.3	87.6	93.9				81.0	86.5	87.0				94.8		$9,518	$523	$8,996
Southport Elementary	Public	K-5	701 West 9th Street	Southport	28461	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 457-6036	413	28	14.7	99.3%	299 (72.4%)	41 (9.9%)	39 (9.4%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.0%)	63.9	520^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.1%		55.9	637^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.2%	117	64.3	69.6	73.8				50.0	55.1	67.2				78.7		$10,218	$817	$9,401
Holly Tree Elementary	Public	K-5	3020 Web Trace	Wilmington	28409	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 790-2250	383	28	13.5	26.1%	289 (75.5%)	28 (7.3%)	44 (11.5%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.4%)	83.9	191^st of 1492 public elementary schools	87.2%		83.2	200^th of 1490 public elementary schools	86.6%	9	82.8	73.4	81.8				71.9	70.3	67.3				83.6		$10,025	$585	$9,440

Frequently Asked Questions about Carolina Beach Elementary

Is Carolina Beach Elementary a good school?

Yes. Carolina Beach Elementary ranks in the top 5.6% of North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Carolina Beach Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 383 students attended Carolina Beach Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Carolina Beach Elementary attend?

Students who attend Carolina Beach Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Charles P Murray Middle
High : Eugene Ashley High

What is the racial makeup of Carolina Beach Elementary?

Students at Carolina Beach Elementary are 91% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Carolina Beach Elementary in?

New Hanover County Schools

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.