Best High Schools in Zip Code 28403

Zip code 28403 is home to John T Hoggard High and Isaac M Bear Early College High School, two public high schools serving grades 9-12 within New Hanover County Schools in North Carolina. These two schools offer dramatically different educational models: Hoggard is a large traditional high school enrolling over 2,000 students, while Bear is a small early college high school with just 260 students.

Isaac M Bear Early College High School is the clear academic standout. It has earned a 5-star rating and ranked in the top 10% of North Carolina high schools for three consecutive years, including a 21st place finish in 2024-2025. Its End-of-Course proficiency rates are extraordinary, reaching 100% in Math I and 98.6% in Math III, while also posting near-perfect scores in English II and Biology—outperforming state averages by 42 to 60 percentage points. In contrast, John T Hoggard High is a solid, above-average comprehensive school with a 3-star rating and a statewide rank near the 68th percentile. Hoggard exceeds state averages in every subject and boasts a 90.6% graduation rate, above both district and state benchmarks. However, the proficiency gap between the two schools is enormous, especially in Math I, where Hoggard's 56.8% proficiency trails Bear's 100% by more than 43 percentage points.

Both schools showed encouraging trends. Hoggard improved dramatically from the previous year in Biology (+19.1 points) and Math I (+17.5 points). Bear spends slightly more per student ($9,555 vs. $8,673) and serves a smaller share of economically disadvantaged students (25.8% vs. 36.2%). Families should understand that Bear is likely a selective early college program, which explains its elite scores, while Hoggard serves a broader population and still outperforms district and state averages. Together, these schools provide 28403 residents access to both a rigorous early college pathway and a strong traditional high school experience.