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C.F. Pope Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1317^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

C.F. Pope Elementary serves 530 students in grades PK-5 in Burgaw, North Carolina, as part of Pender County Schools, a mid-tier district ranked 120th out of 246 districts in the state. The school currently ranks 1,317th out of 1,492 elementary schools statewide — putting it in the 12th percentile with a 1-star rating — and proficiency in math, reading, and science trails district and state averages by wide margins in every tested grade. Most notably, only 33.3% of 4th graders were proficient in both math and reading in the most recent testing year, compared to roughly 60–66% of students districtwide and statewide.

Nearly 98% of Pope's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and 27.7% are chronically absent — above both the district (24.5%) and the state (24.2%). The school's statewide ranking has declined sharply over the past decade, falling from the 44th percentile in 2015-16 to the 10th and 8th percentiles in 2023-24 and 2024-25, before a small rebound to the 12th percentile most recently. Attendance trends appear closely tied to achievement: nearby schools posting strong results report far lower chronic absenteeism rates, suggesting that consistent daily attendance could be one of the most powerful levers for lifting outcomes at Pope.

Bright spots do exist. English Language Learners have shown dramatic improvement in recent years, and 5th-grade science proficiency reached 60.3%, far closer to the state average than any reading or math score. Perhaps most important for parents to know: nearby schools with almost identical poverty rates perform dramatically better. South Topsail Elementary, Murrayville Elementary, and Castle Hayne Elementary each serve student bodies with roughly 99% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility, yet they rank in the 71st to 86th percentiles statewide — proof that Pope's demographics do not dictate its destiny. With continued attention to attendance, targeted instructional support, and the strategies already working for the school's improving student groups, raising achievement at C.F. Pope is an achievable goal.

530

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

89.9%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 4.3% (any vaccine)

400 North Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425

(910) 259-0145

District: Pender County Schools

Students who attend C.F. Pope Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Burgaw Middle
High:	Heide Trask High
	Pender Early College High

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.7%

African American:

34.2%

Hispanic:

19.4%

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Compare C.F. Pope Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2016 → 12th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (42% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 32 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

1,317^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 33 pts since 2016

From bottom 44% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

120^th of 246Pender 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	17.9	1317 of 1492	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	13.9	1365 of 1490	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.3	1358 of 1505	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.4	1149 of 1502	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.5	1115 of 1514	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.1	1055 of 1489	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.6	1088 of 1473	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.0	1088 of 1434	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.5	1041 of 1429	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	47.1	793 of 1425	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.2	971 of 1440	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	25.6	1077 of 1390	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.6	1068 of 1403	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.4	1232 of 1388	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	20.3	1195 of 1381	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.5	980 of 1363	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.3	898 of 1354	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	30.1	1008 of 1324	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.1	1021 of 1293	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.8	1059 of 1276	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	12.6	852 of 903	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.6	903 of 918	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.7	840 of 924	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	36.4	616 of 933	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	515 of 927	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.4	456 of 896	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.0	578 of 949	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.2	651 of 927	29.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	57.2	196 of 646	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.4	745 of 878	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.7	760 of 897	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	64.8	103 of 514	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	17.2	478 of 497	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	1110 of 1447	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.4	1285 of 1451	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.3	1253 of 1455	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.9	917 of 1459	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.9	815 of 1458	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.1	926 of 1440	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.1	857 of 1424	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.1	989 of 1405	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	545 of 981	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.3	793 of 961	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.1	864 of 951	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	686 of 915	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.3	761 of 893	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.4	540 of 843	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.0	617 of 865	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	713 of 851	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	65.1	10 of 30	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	15.7	1338 of 1434	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.4	1338 of 1437	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	1348 of 1450	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	39.7	915 of 1437	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	972 of 1366	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	50.4	577 of 1329	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.4	671 of 1361	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.0	787 of 1332	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	13.3	1363 of 1451	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	1340 of 1450	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	1363 of 1464	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.2	1248 of 1461	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.4	1246 of 1464	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	1094 of 1444	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	1197 of 1430	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.0	1159 of 1413	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	20.7	732 of 801	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	17.0	1039 of 1146	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.5	1061 of 1172	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	1030 of 1166	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.1	971 of 1183	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	980 of 1194	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.6	953 of 1172	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.1	709 of 1183	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	797 of 1178	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2023)80th percentile+56 vs school

Disabled (2021)70th percentile+41 vs school

Homeless (2019)67th percentile+41 vs school

Hispanic (2026)44th percentile+33 vs school

Female (2026)23rd percentile+12 vs school

White (2026)9th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)9th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)7th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)6th percentile-6 vs school

African American (2026)6th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science60%-7 vs state

Mathematics40%-23 vs state

Reading39%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near C.F. Pope 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
C.F. Pope Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	400 North Wright Street	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 259-0145	530	33	16.1	97.7%	189 (35.7%)	181 (34.2%)	103 (19.4%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	48 (9.1%)	17.9	1317^th of 1492 public elementary schools	11.7%		13.9	1365^th of 1490 public elementary schools	8.4%	48	48.7	33.3	36.8				41.0	33.3	42.6				60.3		89.9%	4.3%	$9,705	$1,200	$8,505
Malpass Corner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4992 Malpass Corner Road	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 283-5889	513	29	17.5	—	188 (36.6%)	135 (26.3%)	159 (31.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.5%)	10.2	1419^th of 1492 public elementary schools	4.9%		18.7	1302^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	12.6%	117	55.7	35.9	27.5				32.9	39.7	21.7				27.5		89.6%	0%	$11,511	$1,863	$9,647
Rocky Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	255 Elementary School Road	Rocky Point	28457	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 675-2309	403	29	13.7	—	145 (36.0%)	55 (13.6%)	189 (46.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.5%)	46.6	793^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	46.8%		62.5	522^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	65.0%	271	52.8	58.1	72.6				41.5	51.6	58.1				66.1		93.1%	0%	$11,562	$1,485	$10,077
Penderlea Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	11 Garden Road	Willard	28478	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 285-2761	468	33	14.1	—	235 (50.2%)	83 (17.7%)	108 (23.1%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (7.3%)	44.9	827^th of 1492 public elementary schools	44.6%		36.6	971^st of 1490 public elementary schools	34.8%	144	56.3	63.5	75.6	58.2	49.2	60.3	35.4	52.8	48.9	42.6	50.8	47.1	73.3	70.6	95.5%	4.5%	$9,390	$895	$8,495
Cape Fear Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1882 NC Hwy 133	Rocky Point	28457	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 602-3767	533	37	14.4	—	287 (53.8%)	46 (8.6%)	164 (30.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.2%)	35.5	991^st of 1492 public elementary schools	33.6%		30.2	1088^th of 1490 public elementary schools	27.0%	97	50.6	53.8	59.0				37.0	46.2	40.2				73.5		98.6%	1.4%	$10,210	$1,054	$9,156
Wallace Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4266 Nc 11 S	Wallace	28466	Duplin County	Duplin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 285-7183	1,120	67	16.8	—	207 (18.5%)	289 (25.8%)	572 (51.1%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (3.1%)	8.6	1438^th of 1492 public elementary schools	3.6%		6.6	1455^th of 1490 public elementary schools	2.3%	17	54.5	26.8	27.1	36.2	22.3	27.8	28.7	32.5	29.5	35.3	30.9	30.2	22.5	49.2	94.9%	3.1%	$8,509	$1,271	$7,238
Castle Hayne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3925 Roger Haynes Drive	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 602-4970	531	37	14.5	—	261 (49.2%)	101 (19.0%)	121 (22.8%)	6 (1.1%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (7.0%)	68.8	439^th of 1492 public elementary schools	70.6%		70	396^th of 1490 public elementary schools	73.4%	43	70.6	72.0	79.8				56.5	57.3	60.7				78.6				$10,690	$1,150	$9,540
South Topsail Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	997 Hoover Road	Hampstead	28443	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 270-2756	618	38	16.1	—	475 (76.9%)	19 (3.1%)	67 (10.8%)	8 (1.3%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (7.3%)	82.1	214^th of 1492 public elementary schools	85.7%		77	297^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.1%	83	80.4	74.2	85.1				66.7	64.5	73.4				85.1		92.5%	3.8%	$10,357	$486	$9,871
Topsail Annandale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	17385 US Hwy 17	Hampstead	28443	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 270-1977	580	34	17.0	19.8%	502 (86.6%)	13 (2.2%)	42 (7.2%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (2.9%)	89.8	116^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.2%		90.3	106^th of 1490 public elementary schools	92.9%	10	87.9	80.8					77.8	74.6							92.5%	7.5%	$8,786	$660	$8,125
Wrightsboro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2716 Castle Hayne Rd	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 815-6909	502	34	14.8	—	123 (24.5%)	117 (23.3%)	216 (43.0%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.8%)	17.9	1319^th of 1492 public elementary schools	11.6%		22.6	1227^th of 1490 public elementary schools	17.7%	92	50.0	31.9	44.4				42.0	37.5	38.9				55.6				$11,562	$1,800	$9,762

Frequently Asked Questions about C.F. Pope Elementary

Is C.F. Pope Elementary a good school?

C.F. Pope Elementary ranks in the bottom 11.7% of North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend C.F. Pope Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 530 students attended C.F. Pope Elementary.

What schools do graduates of C.F. Pope Elementary attend?

Students who attend C.F. Pope Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Burgaw Middle
High : Heide Trask High
High : Pender Early College High

What district is C.F. Pope Elementary in?

Pender County Schools

What is the racial makeup of C.F. Pope Elementary?

Students at C.F. Pope Elementary are 36% White, 34% African American, 19% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.