Summary:
Zip code 28480 is home to just one school — Wrightsville Beach Elementary, a K–5 elementary school with 280 students located in Wrightsville Beach and operated by the New Hanover County Schools district. This makes it the only public school option within the zip code, with no middle, high, or alternative schools serving the area directly. It is also an exceptional school by statewide standards: it ranks 26th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools for 2025–2026, placing it in the 98th percentile with a 5-star rating. The school has landed in the top 2% statewide for three straight years, peaking at 12th place in 2024–2025.
Test proficiency at Wrightsville Beach Elementary is far above district and state averages. In 5th-grade math, 94.1% of students are proficient versus 62.9% statewide, a gap of more than 31 points, and 5th-grade science proficiency stands at 94.1% compared with 67.7% statewide. Even the school's lowest result — 80% proficiency in 3rd-grade reading — exceeds the state average of 55.6% by more than 24 points. Fewer than 9% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting an economically advantaged student body. With 280 students and a 14.4-to-1 student–teacher ratio, class sizes are manageable, allowing strong individual support.
Chronic absenteeism at the school is just 8.5%, far below the district and state rates of roughly 24%, a factor that often supports strong achievement. Parents choosing this area for its outstanding elementary school should be aware that no secondary schools exist in zip code 28480, so middle and high school students will attend schools outside of Wrightsville Beach under New Hanover County Schools. Overall, Wrightsville Beach Elementary offers a consistently excellent elementary option, combining elite test scores, near-universal attendance, low poverty, and a small-school environment.
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