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Cape Fear Elementary

Q: Is Cape Fear Elementary a good school?

Cape Fear Elementary ranks 991 st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Cape Fear Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 533 students attended Cape Fear Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Cape Fear Elementary?

Students at Cape Fear Elementary are 54% White, 31% Hispanic, 9% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Cape Fear Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cape Fear Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Cape Fear Middle High : Heide Trask High High : Pender Early College High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

991^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Cape Fear Elementary is a PK–5 school in Rocky Point, NC, serving 533 students as part of Pender County Schools, a district ranked in the 51st percentile statewide. For the 2025–2026 school year, Cape Fear Elementary ranks 991st of 1,492 elementary schools in North Carolina, placing it in the 34th percentile. The school serves a very high-poverty population, with roughly 99% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and its student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 is slightly better than several nearby high-poverty schools.

Reading is the school's most significant academic weakness: no tested grade reaches even 50% proficiency, and 5th grade reading scores (40.2%) trail both district and state averages by wide margins. Math results are also below district averages but show recent volatility, with 4th grade math jumping from 28.2% in 2023–2024 to 53.8% in 2025–2026. The clearest bright spot is 5th grade science, where 73.5% of students scored proficient—above the state average of 67.7% and competitive with the district. Cape Fear also posts exceptional outcomes for gifted and talented students (96th percentile statewide) and fast-improving results for English Language Learners (61st percentile in 2025–2026, up from the 14th percentile two years earlier).

Compared to nearby schools, Cape Fear outperforms several peers but trails a remarkably similar one. It outranks C.F. Pope Elementary (12th percentile) and Malpass Corner Elementary (5th percentile), yet Rocky Point Elementary—just 2.7 miles away with nearly identical demographics—ranks in the 47th percentile and exceeds Cape Fear in nearly every math and reading measure. Chronic absenteeism has improved steadily from 38.1% in 2020–2021 to 20.3% in 2024–2025, now better than the district and state averages. Overall, Cape Fear's uneven performance suggests that despite strong science instruction and pockets of excellence, targeted reading support could meaningfully lift its standing.

533

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1882 NC Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457

(910) 602-3767

District: Pender County Schools

Students who attend Cape Fear Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cape Fear Middle
High:	Heide Trask High
	Pender Early College High

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.8%

Hispanic:

30.8%

African American:

8.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Cape Fear Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (52% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 31 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

991^st of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 32 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to bottom 34% (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	35.5	991 of 1492	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.2	1088 of 1490	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.3	1042 of 1505	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.0	1057 of 1502	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.1	1110 of 1514	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	46.3	760 of 1489	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.7	661 of 1473	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.9	710 of 1434	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	71.6	379 of 1429	73.5%	★★★★☆
2016	64.1	492 of 1425	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	53.3	697 of 1440	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	26.0	1071 of 1390	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.6	1143 of 1403	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.6	932 of 1388	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.1	757 of 1381	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	65.1	505 of 1363	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.9	576 of 1354	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.1	618 of 1324	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.5	414 of 1293	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	52.2	682 of 1276	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	22.7	804 of 927	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.4	263 of 949	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	36.5	623 of 927	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	43.2	474 of 878	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.4	729 of 897	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.0	201 of 519	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	35.9	365 of 563	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.4	456 of 533	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	504 of 514	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	47.7	215 of 485	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.7	200 of 385	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.5	271 of 497	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	885 of 1447	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.8	976 of 1451	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	1046 of 1455	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	1187 of 1459	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.0	1128 of 1458	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.9	698 of 1440	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.4	691 of 1424	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.2	457 of 1405	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	31 of 743	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	54.6	306 of 500	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.6	332 of 494	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	763 of 981	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.6	776 of 961	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.2	700 of 951	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.8	609 of 915	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.6	738 of 893	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.2	342 of 843	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.2	334 of 865	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.2	460 of 851	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	1000 of 1434	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.1	1074 of 1437	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.6	955 of 1450	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	943 of 1437	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.7	718 of 1366	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.4	430 of 1329	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.4	276 of 1361	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	61.8	456 of 1332	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.7	1038 of 1451	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.1	1116 of 1450	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.8	975 of 1464	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.6	877 of 1461	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.8	1019 of 1464	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.2	803 of 1444	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.0	622 of 1430	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.2	927 of 1413	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	20.9	728 of 815	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.3	629 of 821	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	926 of 1146	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.7	1031 of 1172	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	1052 of 1166	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.9	1030 of 1183	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	1049 of 1194	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.5	834 of 1172	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.1	835 of 1183	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.8	744 of 1178	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)96th percentile+62 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)61st percentile+28 vs school

Disabled (2019)46th percentile-9 vs school

Female (2026)39th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)28th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)22nd percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-14 vs school

African American (2022)13th percentile-13 vs school

Special Education (2026)11th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science74%+6 vs state

Mathematics55%-8 vs state

Reading41%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cape Fear 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
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	99.4%	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		$10,210	$1,054	$9,156
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	99.3%	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		$11,562	$1,485	$10,077
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	99.4%	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
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	98.4%	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
Murrayville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	225 Mabee Way	Wilmington	28411	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 790-5067	573	40	14.2	99.5%	297 (51.8%)	79 (13.8%)	129 (22.5%)	27 (4.7%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	36 (6.3%)	76.7	287^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.8%		66.6	454^th of 1490 public elementary schools	69.5%	167	81.3	71.1	78.4				66.7	61.1	64.9				78.4		$9,901	$832	$9,069
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		$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	98.1%	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		$11,511	$1,863	$9,647
Dr Hubert Eaton Senior Elementary	Public	K-5	6701 Gordon Road	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 397-1544	461	32	14.2	30.4%	342 (74.2%)	31 (6.7%)	39 (8.5%)	13 (2.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.2%)	91	98^th of 1492 public elementary schools	93.4%		91.7	86^th of 1490 public elementary schools	94.2%	12	87.7	86.8	90.2				70.4	76.5	73.8				91.8		$10,965	$754	$10,211
D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy	Public	K-8	813 Nixon Street	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 251-6150	162	7	30.3	94.4%	6 (3.7%)	146 (90.1%)	4 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.7%)	1.1	1490^th of 1492 public elementary schools	0.1%		1	1489^th of 1490 public elementary schools	0.1%	1	5.9	534.9	15.4	535.2	6.3	< 5%	5.9	30.0	537.4	537.9	6.3	25.0	334.1	50.0
R Freeman School of Engineering	Public, Magnet	K-5	2601 Princess Place Drive	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(910) 251-6011	241	22	10.8	98.8%	7 (2.9%)	170 (70.5%)	44 (18.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.5%)	0.9	1492^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	0.0%		1.1	1488^th of 1490 public elementary schools	0.1%	4	13.5	9.8	21.1				9.6	21.4	15.8				34.2		$16,676	$2,332	$14,344

Frequently Asked Questions about Cape Fear Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Cape Fear Elementary?

Students at Cape Fear Elementary are 54% White, 31% Hispanic, 9% African American, 6% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Cape Fear Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cape Fear Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cape Fear Middle
High : Heide Trask High
High : Pender Early College High

Is Cape Fear Elementary a good school?

Cape Fear Elementary ranks 991^st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cape Fear Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 533 students attended Cape Fear Elementary.

What district is Cape Fear Elementary in?

Pender County Schools

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.