Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28480

Summary:

The 28480 zip code is home to a single standout elementary school, Wrightsville Beach Elementary, which has consistently ranked among the top 30 elementary schools in North Carolina's New Hanover County Schools district. With exceptional academic performance, Wrightsville Beach Elementary boasts significantly higher test scores than state and district averages, with 93.6% of 3rd graders proficient or better in math compared to 64.1% statewide.

The school's success is further evidenced by its low percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting it serves a more affluent student population. Wrightsville Beach Elementary also benefits from relatively high per-student spending and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.7 to 1, which may contribute to its outstanding educational outcomes.

While Wrightsville Beach Elementary's performance is undoubtedly impressive, the data raises questions about equity and access to high-performing schools for students from lower-income families. Further analysis of the factors contributing to the school's success could provide valuable insights for improving educational opportunities across the district and state.

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
Wrightsville Beach Elementary	Public	K-5	220 Coral Drive	Wrightsville Beach	28480	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 256-3171	280	19	14.4	8.9%	256 (91.4%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (3.2%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	97.6	12^th of 1490 public elementary schools	99.2%		96.3	30^th of 1505 public elementary schools	98.0%	18	93.6	95.8	91.1	83.0	89.6	83.9	96.5	$11,028	$419	$10,609

Cities Near Zip Code 28480

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Wrightsville Beach	0.51 mi	1	2^nd
Wilmington	2.87 mi	45	220^th
Castle Hayne	9.27 mi	5	74^th
Leland	10.79 mi	5	203^rd
Hampstead	13.12 mi	7	42^nd

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.