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Sunset Park Elementary

Public Grades K-5

1448^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Sunset Park Elementary is a K–5 public school in Wilmington, NC, within New Hanover County Schools, serving about 450 students in a high-poverty urban area of the city.

Nearly all of Sunset Park's students — 99.33% — qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school among the most economically disadvantaged in the Wilmington area. The school has a relatively favorable 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio and spends about $14,494 per pupil, yet its latest 2025-26 ranking places it at the 3rd percentile statewide — 1,448th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools — with a 0-star rating. That is a steep drop from the 20th percentile in 2024-25 and the 29th percentile in 2022-23. Academic gaps appear in every grade and subject when compared with district and state averages: 5th-grade reading is just 19.7% proficient versus 55.3% statewide, and 5th-grade science, at 25.4%, is 42 points below the state average. Reading proficiency also steadily falls as students advance, from 32.6% in 3rd grade to 19.7% by 5th grade. Chronic absenteeism sits at 29.6%, above the district's 23.8% rate.

What makes these results especially striking is that nearby schools with similar poverty levels perform far better. The International School at Gregory, only 1.7 miles away and in the same district, serves a 99.42% low-income population yet ranks in the 53rd percentile, with 5th-grade reading at 69.8%. Belville Elementary, about 2.6 miles away with a 99.63% poverty rate, ranks in the 64th percentile. Cape Fear Center for Inquiry, 1.2 miles away, ranks in the 70th percentile and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.8% — roughly one-quarter of Sunset's. These comparisons show that economic disadvantage alone does not determine academic outcomes, and they point to real opportunities for Sunset Park to learn from local schools getting far better results with the same student population. For families, the bottom line is that Sunset Park needs urgent attention, especially around attendance and literacy in the upper elementary grades.

450

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

613 Alabama Ave
Wilmington, NC 28401-6899

(910) 815-6948

District: New Hanover County Schools

Students who attend Sunset Park Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Williston Middle
High:	New Hanover High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

62.2%

African American:

22.9%

White:

8.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Sunset Park Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (33% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 36 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school33%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

1,448^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 36 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to bottom 3% (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	7.4	1448 of 1492	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	24.9	1190 of 1490	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.1	1324 of 1505	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	1059 of 1502	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.9	1071 of 1514	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.2	1264 of 1489	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	1038 of 1473	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.8	959 of 1434	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	26.2	1134 of 1429	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	43.1	874 of 1425	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.9	976 of 1440	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.2	860 of 1390	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.9	870 of 1403	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.3	882 of 1388	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	11.3	1295 of 1381	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	22.0	1150 of 1363	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	6.2	1303 of 1354	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	17.3	1162 of 1324	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	31.6	1004 of 1293	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	32.8	967 of 1276	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	760 of 903	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.0	815 of 918	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	691 of 924	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.9	464 of 933	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.9	416 of 927	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.7	791 of 896	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.5	341 of 949	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.6	454 of 927	51.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	24.5	544 of 646	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.2	244 of 878	72.2%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	149 of 897	83.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	20.7	462 of 519	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.1	344 of 563	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	275 of 533	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.4	167 of 514	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.0	137 of 485	71.8%	★★★★☆
2021	39.8	210 of 385	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.8	110 of 497	77.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	4.9	1431 of 1447	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	21.7	1234 of 1451	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.3	1394 of 1455	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.3	1170 of 1459	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.7	1262 of 1458	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	1223 of 1440	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.9	1130 of 1424	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.1	990 of 1405	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	13.8	942 of 981	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	36.7	639 of 961	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.2	776 of 951	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.4	589 of 915	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.8	569 of 893	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.2	624 of 843	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.5	451 of 865	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.7	267 of 851	68.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.7	1267 of 1434	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.5	814 of 1437	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.5	1155 of 1450	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.5	709 of 1437	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.4	799 of 1366	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.1	1011 of 1329	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	52.9	625 of 1361	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.3	631 of 1332	52.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	13.0	1366 of 1451	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	1080 of 1450	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	1172 of 1464	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.1	868 of 1461	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.8	850 of 1464	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.3	1229 of 1444	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.4	890 of 1430	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.0	902 of 1413	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	80.3	189 of 1178	84.0%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2018)84th percentile+51 vs school

African American (2026)16th percentile+13 vs school

Disabled (2021)16th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile+9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)11th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)6th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)4th percentile~ school

Female (2026)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics40%-24 vs state

Reading27%-29 vs state

Science25%-42 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Lots of violence. Poor faculty and staff. Teachers obviously want to be at the school less than the students. No control over students, leading to classes being separated at recess. Children are forced to play in specific groups during outside play time, limiting them socially. Close Quote

Schools Near Sunset Park 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Sunset Park Elementary	Public	K-5	613 Alabama Ave	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 815-6948	450	35	12.9	—	40 (8.9%)	103 (22.9%)	280 (62.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.8%)	7.4	1448^th of 1492 public elementary schools	2.9%		24.9	1190^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.1%	258	40.7	43.8	35.2				32.6	28.8	19.7				25.4		$14,494	$2,078	$12,416
Lake Forest Academy	Public	K-8	1802 S 15th Street	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 772-2515	45	14	3.2	93.3%	14 (31.1%)	21 (46.7%)	3 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (13.3%)								(n/a)															$44,023	$483	$43,539
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry	Public, Charter	K-8	2525 Wonder Way	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	Cape Fear Center for Inquiry	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 362-0000	395	30	13.1	—	320 (81.0%)	29 (7.3%)	26 (6.6%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	12 (3.0%)	68.6	447^th of 1492 public elementary schools	70.0%		75.8	309^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.3%	138	58.1	71.1	70.8	66.7	56.5	68.1	55.8	73.3	64.6	62.2	73.9	72.3	77.1	91.5
The International School at Gregory	Public, Magnet	K-8	1106 Ann St	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(910) 251-6185	514	37	13.7	—	171 (33.3%)	114 (22.2%)	198 (38.5%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.4%)	51.8	700^th of 1492 public elementary schools	53.1%		58.3	594^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.1%	106	43.9	51.7	69.8	65.3	60.5	79.3	40.4	48.3	69.8	67.3	73.7	75.9	79.2	79.3	$18,192	$1,517	$16,675
Edwin A Alderman Elementary	Public	K-5	2025 Independence Blvd	Wilmington	28403	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 350-2031	255	22	11.4	—	108 (42.4%)	89 (34.9%)	32 (12.5%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.1%)	12.1	1395^th of 1492 public elementary schools	6.5%		12.1	1392^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	6.6%	3	35.9	31.8	35.0				41.0	31.8	32.5				57.5		$14,178	$1,969	$12,209
Forest Hills Global Elementary	Public	K-5	602 Colonial Drive	Wilmington	28403	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 251-6190	340	32	10.7	—	43 (12.6%)	146 (42.9%)	130 (38.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.3%)	22.6	1234^th of 1492 public elementary schools	17.3%		13.5	1373^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	7.9%	139	45.2	59.3	64.4				14.3	38.9	28.8				44.1		$14,096	$1,993	$12,103
Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington	Public, Charter	K-5	507 N 6th Street	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 763-1976	140	6	23.3	85.7%	24 (17.1%)	74 (52.9%)	25 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (12.1%)	17.9	1320^th of 1492 public elementary schools	11.5%		32.9	1038^th of 1490 public elementary schools	30.3%	282	47.4	33.3	45.5				26.3	53.3	45.5				45.5
Wilmington School of the Arts	Public, Virtual, Charter	K-7	1306 Floral Pkwy	Wilmington	28406	New Hanover County	Wilmington School of the Arts	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(910) 399-3712	297	20	14.7	58.2%	192 (64.6%)	26 (8.8%)	32 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	5 (1.7%)	38 (12.8%)	61.7	553^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	62.9%		51	730^th of 1490 public elementary schools	51.0%	177	62.2	66.0	51.2	55.6	50.0		66.7	72.3	68.3	66.7	54.5		63.4
A H Snipes Academy of Arts/Des	Public, Magnet	K-5	2150 Chestnut Street	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(910) 251-6175	342	27	12.7	—	37 (10.8%)	216 (63.2%)	60 (17.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.2%)	8.5	1439^th of 1492 public elementary schools	3.6%		14.6	1353^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	9.2%	86	50.0	25.0	29.6				32.4	21.4	25.9				50.0		$15,103	$2,324	$12,779
Belville Elementary	Public	K-5	575 River Road	Leland	28451	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 371-0601	812	54	15.1	—	434 (53.4%)	141 (17.4%)	150 (18.5%)	9 (1.1%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	71 (8.7%)	63.2	533^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	64.3%		63.1	512^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.6%	21	67.6	71.5	60.5				51.7	63.2	63.8				76.3		$9,927	$957	$8,970

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunset Park Elementary

How many students attend Sunset Park Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 450 students attended Sunset Park Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Sunset Park Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sunset Park Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Williston Middle
High : New Hanover High

What district is Sunset Park Elementary in?

New Hanover County Schools

Is Sunset Park Elementary a good school?

Sunset Park Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.9% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Sunset Park Elementary?

Students at Sunset Park Elementary are 62% Hispanic, 23% African American, 9% White, 6% Two or more races.

Rate Sunset Park Elementary!

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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.