Summary:
Zip code 28401 in Wilmington, NC, is served by one public high school, New Hanover High, which enrolls 1,437 students in grades 9–12 and is part of the New Hanover County Schools district. Because this is the only high school in the area, the following details focus entirely on this school’s performance, challenges, and recent trends.
New Hanover High serves a student body where virtually all students (98.54%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting very high economic need. Academically, the school trails its district and the state in most subjects. In the most recent year, Math I proficiency was just 22.4%, compared to 47.6% in the district and 42.1% statewide—a gap of more than 25 points from the district. English II proficiency was 47.6% versus 68.7% for the district, and Biology proficiency was 41.6% versus 59.9% for the district. Math III was the only subject somewhat closer, at 59.1% versus 68.1% for the district. The school’s graduation rate is 81.6%, about 7–8 points below the district (89.4%) and state (88.8%). Its state ranking has declined steadily, from the 32nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 19th percentile in 2025–2026.
One of the most serious concerns is chronic absenteeism: 38.0% of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, compared to about 24% districtwide and statewide. This likely contributes to lower test scores and graduation rates. There are some signs of improvement, however. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, Math I proficiency rose from 14.1% to 22.4%, Biology rose from 34.9% to 41.6%, and English II rose from 44.1% to 47.6%. On the other hand, Math III proficiency dropped sharply from 70.7% to 59.1%, a decline that erased the school’s previous advantage over the state average. For parents considering this school, the key takeaways are that New Hanover High faces significant challenges related to poverty, attendance, and foundational math skills, but recent gains in several subjects show that targeted efforts can lead to improvement.
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