Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28401

ZIP code 28401, serving the Wilmington area, contains 9 schools enrolling approximately 4,311 students in grades PK-12, with most schools facing very high poverty levels. Six of the nine schools belong to New Hanover County Schools, while Cape Fear Center for Inquiry, D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy, and Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington operate as separate charter districts. The ZIP includes one high school, one traditional middle school, and seven elementary or K-8 schools.

The strongest school is Cape Fear Center for Inquiry, a K-8 charter with 4 stars, test scores at or above state averages, and a low 7.8% chronic absenteeism rate. The International School at Gregory is the top traditional public school, earning 3 stars and posting strong middle-school scores even though 99.42% of its students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. Lake Forest Academy is a small specialized setting without comparable test data. By contrast, D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy ranks near the very bottom of North Carolina elementary schools, and Wrightsboro Elementary, Sunset Park Elementary, and Classical Charter Schools of Wilmington all sit at the 12th percentile or below. New Hanover High, the only high school, has a 1-star rating, an 81.6% graduation rate, and only 22.4% Math I proficiency. Williston Middle ranks at the 9th percentile with 41.8% chronic absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism strongly tracks performance: the two highest-performing schools have the lowest absenteeism, while most other schools exceed the 24.2% state average. Sunset Park Elementary experienced a sharp year-over-year drop in 5th-grade scores, while The International School at Gregory shows that high-poverty schools can still succeed. Overall, parents will find one exceptional charter, a few solid options, and several high-need schools requiring significant academic and attendance support.