Holly Tree Elementary

Summary:

Holly Tree Elementary is a public elementary school located in Wilmington, North Carolina, serving 423 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This high-performing school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with exceptional academic achievement across all grade levels and subject areas.

Holly Tree Elementary's students consistently outperform the state and New Hanover County Schools district averages in standardized test scores, with 80% of 3rd graders, 79.5% of 4th graders, and 70% of 5th graders proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the state averages of 62.7%, 56.6%, and 58.1%, respectively. In reading, 54.5% of 3rd graders, 77.1% of 4th graders, and 75% of 5th graders at Holly Tree Elementary were proficient or better, compared to 48.7%, 52.8%, and 50.3% at the state level. The school's strong performance is particularly notable among certain student subgroups, such as female students, Hispanic students, and students with disabilities.

While Holly Tree Elementary consistently outperforms the state and district averages, the nearby schools show a wide range of academic performance. For example, Masonboro Elementary ranks among the top 1% of elementary schools in North Carolina and has exceptional test scores, outperforming Holly Tree Elementary in many areas. On the other hand, schools like Forest Hills Global Elementary and Lake Forest Academy struggle academically, with significantly lower test scores and rankings compared to Holly Tree Elementary.


Detail:

Public K-5

 3020 Web Trace
       Wilmington, NC  28409


(910) 790-2250

District: New Hanover County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
152nd of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,025 Help


Students who attend Holly Tree Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Roland-Grise Middle
High:    John T Hoggard High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.6 Help
Number of students:  423

Racial breakdown:

White:
76.6%
Hispanic:
10.6%
Two or more races:
5.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  20.8% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Holly Tree Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Holly Tree Elementary ranks better than 89.9% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 7th among 24 ranked elementary schools in the New Hanover County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.91. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (76.6%), Hispanic (10.6%), two or more races (5.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 20.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Holly Tree Elementary is 14.6. 19 elementary schools in the New Hanover County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Holly Tree Elementary employs 28.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Holly Tree Elementary is $10,025. 20 elementary schools in the New Hanover County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Holly Tree Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Holly Tree Elementary 152nd of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Holly Tree Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
White students:


New Hanover County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks New Hanover County Schools 70th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Holly Tree Elementary?

Rank History for Holly Tree Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 89.18 52nd 1276 95.9%
2007 83.01 123rd 1293 90.5%
2008 89.14 74th 1324 94.4%
2009 84.77 131st 1354 90.3%
2010 87.66 74th 1363 94.6%
2011 86.66 98th 1381 92.9%
2012 86.30 91st 1388 93.4%
2013 93.84 62nd 1403 95.6%
2014 93.94 54th 1390 96.1%
2015 92.82 54th 1440 96.3%
2016 90.79 78th 1425 94.5%
2017 91.97 68th 1429 95.2%
2018 94.37 36th 1434 97.5%
2019 92.49 58th 1473 96.1%
2021 93.79 75th 1489 95.0%
2022 86.17 160th 1514 89.4%
2023 87.83 138th 1502 90.8%
2024 86.91 152nd 1505 89.9%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 84.39 58th 801 92.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.34 116th 1332 91.3%
2019 94.14 20th 1361 98.5%
2021 68.41 281st 1329 78.9%
2023 81.18 146th 1437 89.8%
2024 74.75 237th 1450 83.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.80 38th 1405 97.3%
2019 90.05 72nd 1424 94.9%
2021 96.21 28th 1440 98.1%
2022 87.83 118th 1458 91.9%
2023 88.94 105th 1459 92.8%
2024 87.01 126th 1455 91.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.25 74th 897 91.8%
2019 87.16 43rd 878 95.1%
2021 93.42 14th 646 97.8%
2022 94.01 14th 634 97.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 60.76 286th 612 53.3%
2021 75.00 56th 494 88.7%
2022 42.32 416th 500 16.8%
2024 59.63 319th 669 52.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.07 33rd 1413 97.7%
2019 91.61 70th 1430 95.1%
2021 89.29 118th 1444 91.8%
2022 82.45 192nd 1464 86.9%
2023 83.85 170th 1461 88.4%
2024 82.58 194th 1464 86.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 84.67 72nd 843 91.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Holly Tree Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.06 64th 1178 94.6%
2019 85.30 110th 1183 90.7%
2021 88.66 77th 1172 93.4%
2022 75.88 246th 1194 79.4%
2023 79.48 188th 1183 84.1%
2024 75.57 250th 1166 78.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Holly Tree Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

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0%

100%

  

by a student
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Open Quote I still recognize the times of struggling to teach and learn lessons, arguments over less expansive curriculum, severe criticism over slights in getting lessons wrong or not enough right in various classrooms, or children talking over material too much or trying to pretend other kids were in whatever lessons were taught that day just to harass them over it. Better staff and students didn't have much hope in the long run with too many wrong settings there as starting points. They argued over who was special needs, had emotional or processing problems, certain faculty snarled and screamed at kids, took things too personally and figured penalties leaving kids "ashamed" were the "needed" or "normal" response. Even kids went on board with "bad words" and "tantrum" panics, despite their guilt over bullying, fighting, and being possessive in and out of school. The only kids "aloud to" cry or "weren't unruly" either were "hopefuls" for leaving the county when adults, staying to ingrain their efforts, or "didn't know, they're too adorable, fun-loving, and happy", obvious matter of opinion. People didn't know how or when to be kids or grow up, and no one from faculty to even students and parents have much peace or room to mature. I've BEEN on BOTH sides of that situation! In kindergarten, I said a girl "slapped" me because I was traumatized and confused when she screamed at me and was the loudest of us two in an altercation in that same classroom, I recall getting a stain on my shirt, the teacher told me to take my shirt off, then go to the in-class bathroom when no one wanted to see me. In 1st grade, a teacher with a pension for degrading, snarling, and shouting at children lost it most over "misbehavior" and imperfect grades. No one knew I had processing problems due to early-onset psychosis and developmental issues outside of autism, so I cried and got sent outside and then the principal's office. The teacher's assistant briefly joined in, and she still didn't get what went wrong when she apologized. Special ed is treated like all-day "detention" to place curricularly and behavioraly marginalized kids, which I was threatened with once in 4th grade by a primary teacher I was assigned to and the special ed supervisor. As for my guilt, when kids surrounded me and a special needs girl I was friends with, we pretended to be "affectionate" with each other because the kids were chased off. It escalated to children making us pretend to "kiss" and squealing so gleefully even faculty believed it, until it got straightened out down to excessively, painfully guilt-riddled apology letters. I fought a kid who wasn't noticed as special needs, threatened one girl in a screaming fight, unnerved another girl who wanted only girls as friends so she'd grow up, and I took that too personally and insulted her. I made a girl cry from getting her friend to ditch her during storytelling, in the 5th grade. I'm guilty, and people don't care for any perspectives "because it's past" or "because it can't go on forever". Even on buses, kids went from consoling any crying to tattling on and altercating at each other, sometimes physical and crossing personal lines or too rough. I can only imagine funding problems. Even a middle school friend babysat on the playground over a decade ago, and some goons nearly snatched all the kids. People everywhere with dangerous homes, undiagnosed mental and developmental problems and differences, even sleeping poorly or maybe have dependencies they try to keep out of school, but the emotional and social effects drop HERE. That's NO "safe haven", for children and adults alike. So the school had better have improved over the years, and if not, they and parents and children need to be honest and figure everything out down to solutions that keep up a safe environment and hopeful, fully inclusive, cognizant curriculum. The county has a lot of responsibility and involvement, too many people and places do. This is no lone school problem, this is a circumstantial and community problem, everyone needs to put equal improvements in. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Holly Tree Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1998 305 134 1 2 6 n/a n/a 5 453
1999 348 139 3 3 5 n/a n/a 0 498
2000 327 116 4 3 5 n/a n/a 0 455
2001 314 120 5 2 1 n/a n/a 0 442
2002 378 102 11 4 2 n/a n/a 0 497
2003 378 102 11 4 2 n/a n/a 0 497
2004 366 116 13 6 1 n/a n/a 0 502
2005 355 122 15 7 3 n/a n/a 0 502
2006 352 116 16 13 2 n/a n/a 0 499
2007 353 101 17 12 2 n/a n/a 21 506
2008 362 35 14 11 2 n/a n/a 27 451
2009 367 58 17 13 1 n/a n/a 0 456
2010 385 65 16 14 1 n/a n/a 0 481
2011 401 34 16 21 0 0 18 0 490
2012 404 32 15 21 0 3 19 0 494
2013 409 35 17 22 0 2 15 0 500
2014 404 35 18 25 0 1 22 0 505
2015 431 37 19 23 0 1 25 0 536
2016 397 45 17 31 0 1 20 0 511
2017 415 43 17 36 0 1 16 0 528
2018 430 36 14 33 0 0 20 0 533
2019 404 33 14 39 0 0 21 0 511
2020 407 24 10 43 0 0 24 0 508
2021 330 22 7 42 0 0 28 0 429
2022 341 19 9 37 1 0 29 0 436
2023 324 21 8 45 0 0 25 0 423

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Holly Tree Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 453 30.0 15.1 n/a
1999 498 30.0 16.6 27.1
2000 455 30.0 15.2 30.1
2001 442 30.0 14.7 31.4
2002 497 22.0 22.6 20.1
2003 497 22.0 22.6 20.1
2004 502 22.0 22.8 22.1
2005 502 22.0 22.8 25.1
2006 499 22.0 22.7 24.8
2007 506 n/a n/a 26.4
2008 451 28.4 15.9 17.7
2009 456 29.0 15.7 22.6
2010 481 29.8 16.0 25.8
2011 490 31.6 15.4 25.1
2012 494 31.2 15.8 25.3
2013 500 32.2 15.4 28.2
2014 505 32.3 15.6 28.5
2015 536 31.0 17.2 30.6
2016 511 28.0 18.2 28.4
2017 528 31.2 16.9 26.9
2018 533 33.2 16.0 22.9
2019 511 31.2 16.3 30.3
2020 508 32.2 15.7 21.3
2021 429 30.5 14.0 16.3
2022 436 32.3 13.4 8.9
2023 423 28.8 14.6 20.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Holly Tree Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 453 30.0 15.1 n/a
1999 498 30.0 16.6 27.1
2000 455 30.0 15.2 30.1
2001 442 30.0 14.7 31.4
2002 497 22.0 22.6 20.1
2003 497 22.0 22.6 20.1
2004 502 22.0 22.8 22.1
2005 502 22.0 22.8 25.1
2006 499 22.0 22.7 24.8
2007 506 n/a n/a 26.4
2008 451 28.4 15.9 17.7
2009 456 29.0 15.7 22.6
2010 481 29.8 16.0 25.8
2011 490 31.6 15.4 25.1
2012 494 31.2 15.8 25.3
2013 500 32.2 15.4 28.2
2014 505 32.3 15.6 28.5
2015 536 31.0 17.2 30.6
2016 511 28.0 18.2 28.4
2017 528 31.2 16.9 26.9
2018 533 33.2 16.0 22.9
2019 511 31.2 16.3 30.3
2020 508 32.2 15.7 21.3
2021 429 30.5 14.0 16.3
2022 436 32.3 13.4 8.9
2023 423 28.8 14.6 20.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Holly Tree Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $585 (5.8%) $9,440 (94.2%) $10,024

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Holly Tree Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 58th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 138th of 1502 Elementary schools
 5.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Holly Tree Elementary)85.573.8
 11.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Hanover County Schools)69.468.1
 1.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Holly Tree Elementary)86.769
 17.7%
   3rd Grade Reading (New Hanover County Schools)61.653.7
 7.9%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Holly Tree Elementary)77.272.8
 4.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Hanover County Schools)63.365.2
 1.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Holly Tree Elementary)81.575.3
 6.2%
   4th Grade Reading (New Hanover County Schools)63.464.2
 0.8%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Holly Tree Elementary)80.276.9
 3.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Hanover County Schools)67.666.3
 1.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Holly Tree Elementary)85.275.6
 9.6%
   5th Grade Reading (New Hanover County Schools)64.158
 6.1%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Holly Tree Elementary)96.387.2
 9.1%
   5th Grade Science (New Hanover County Schools)8074.9
 5.1%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students511423
 17.2%
African American3321
 36.4%
American Indian00
Asian148
 42.9%
Hispanic3945
 15.4%
Pacific Islander00
White404324
 19.8%
Two or More Races2125
 19%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients30.3%20.8%
 9.5%


Schools Near Holly Tree Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Holly Tree Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 423 students attended Holly Tree Elementary.

Students at Holly Tree Elementary are 77% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% African American, 2% Asian.

Holly Tree Elementary ranks 152nd of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Holly Tree Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Roland-Grise Middle
High : John T Hoggard High


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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.





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