Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28403

Zip code 28403, in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, contains 8 schools — five elementary/K-8 schools, one middle school, and two high schools — serving roughly 4,687 students, with seven schools in New Hanover County Schools and one charter, Wilmington Preparatory Academy, in its own standalone district. This small zip code spans nearly the entire North Carolina school performance spectrum, from one of the state's best high schools to several elementary schools in the bottom 17% of all schools statewide.

At the top, Isaac M Bear Early College High School is the clear standout: a 5-star school ranked in the 92nd percentile among North Carolina high schools, with near-perfect EOC proficiency in Math I, Math III, and English II. John T Hoggard High, the largest school in the zip with 2,082 students, is a solidly above-average 3-star school with a 90.6% graduation rate, beating district and state averages. Roland-Grise Middle, the zip's only middle school, consistently earns 4 stars, ranking in the 77th percentile with all tested subjects above state averages. Perhaps most instructive is Winter Park Model Elementary, where 99% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch yet the school still ranks in the 65th percentile and is steadily improving — a stark contrast to College Park Elementary (4th percentile), Edwin A Alderman Elementary (7th percentile), and Forest Hills Global Elementary (17th percentile), which serve similarly high-poverty populations yet post far lower proficiency rates.

Chronic absenteeism closely tracks these outcomes: strong performers Winter Park (19.7%) and Roland-Grise (18.7%) stay below district and state averages, while struggling Forest Hills (39.3%) and College Park (31.1%) run well above them. Spending alone does not explain the results — College Park spends the most per pupil at $17,443 yet is the lowest-ranked traditional elementary school here. Small-school data should be read cautiously: Wilmington Preparatory Academy has only 91 students, making year-to-year rank swings highly volatile. The biggest concern is early literacy: 3rd grade reading proficiency ranges from just 14.3% at Forest Hills to 55.6% at Winter Park, illustrating how uneven educational opportunity can be within a single zip code. For parents, Winter Park proves that high-poverty schools in this area can succeed, while the large gaps between nearby elementary schools warrant a close look at attendance boundaries, programming, and school climate.