Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28428

Summary:

The 28428 zip code is home to a single standout public elementary school, Carolina Beach Elementary, which serves grades K-5 and has a total enrollment of 432 students. As part of the New Hanover County Schools district, Carolina Beach Elementary consistently outperforms both district and state averages on state assessments in mathematics, reading, and science.

Carolina Beach Elementary boasts impressive proficiency rates, with 78.1% of 3rd graders, 89.9% of 4th graders, and 77.1% of 5th graders meeting or exceeding state standards in mathematics. In reading, 71.2% of 3rd graders, 83.5% of 4th graders, and 74.3% of 5th graders achieved proficiency. The school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate of 85.7% also exceeds the district and state averages. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.8 to 1 and spending of $10,071 per student, the school appears to be well-resourced and focused on delivering a high-quality education.

Overall, Carolina Beach Elementary stands out as a high-performing school in the 28428 zip code, consistently outpacing its peers in the New Hanover County Schools district and across the state of North Carolina. The school's strong academic results, favorable student-teacher ratio, and additional funding suggest that it is providing an exceptional educational experience for its students.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Carolina Beach Elementary	Public	K-5	400 South 4th St	Carolina Beach	28428	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 458-4340	383	27	14.1	33.4%	349 (91.1%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.7%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.1%)	91.2	91^st of 1490 public elementary schools	93.9%		86.2	163^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	89.2%	72	78.1	89.9	77.1	71.2	83.5	74.3	85.7	$10,071	$617	$9,454

Cities Near Zip Code 28428

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Carolina Beach	0.43 mi	1	5^th
Wilmington	4.3 mi	45	220^th
Southport	8.27 mi	3	201^st
Winnabow	12.78 mi	2	102^nd
Leland	13.59 mi	5	203^rd

See the top NC North Carolina cities

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.