Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Summary:

Wilmington Preparatory Academy is a public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in Wilmington, North Carolina, with a relatively small student population of 97 students as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school's student body is predominantly African American (60.82%) and White (24.74%), with smaller percentages of Hispanic (9.28%) and students of two or more races (5.15%).

Academically, Wilmington Preparatory Academy has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of North Carolina elementary schools, with proficiency rates significantly below state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 10% in 4th grade math, 30% in 8th grade math, 30% in 4th grade reading, and 50% in 8th grade reading, compared to the state averages of 56.6%, 46.9%, 52.8%, and 51.4%, respectively. The school's performance for its African American student subgroup has been better relative to the state, but its low socioeconomic status (SES) student subgroup still ranks in the bottom quartile of North Carolina elementary schools.

Wilmington Preparatory Academy's academic performance is notably lower than that of nearby schools, such as The International School at Gregory, Winter Park Model Elementary, and Edwin A. Alderman Elementary, which are also part of the New Hanover County Schools district. These schools have higher proficiency rates on state assessments and higher statewide rankings. Additionally, Wilmington Preparatory Academy serves a student population with a high percentage of low-income families, in contrast to some nearby schools that have significantly lower percentages of students from low-income backgrounds.


Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

 134 Cinema Drive
       Wilmington, NC  28403


(910) 799-6776

District: Wilmington Preparatory Academy


Student/teacher ratio:  9.5 Help
Number of students:  97

Racial breakdown:

African American:
60.8%
White:
24.7%
Hispanic:
9.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  79.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Wilmington Preparatory Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.49. (See more...)
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Compare Details Wilmington Preparatory Academy ranks worse than 51.2% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 48.8. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (60.8%), White (24.7%), Hispanic (9.3%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wilmington Preparatory Academy is 9.5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Wilmington Preparatory Academy employs 10.1 full-time teachers.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Wilmington Preparatory Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Wilmington Preparatory Academy 406th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Wilmington Preparatory Academy in the ranking list.)



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Rank History for Wilmington Preparatory Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2008 1.79 1317th 1324 0.5%
2009 1.75 1343rd 1354 0.8%
2010 7.95 1307th 1363 4.1%
2011 26.68 1111th 1381 19.6%
2012 44.82 851st 1388 38.7%
2013 19.93 1189th 1403 15.3%
2014 40.58 839th 1390 39.6%
2015 58.14 601st 1440 58.3%
2016 34.73 1008th 1425 29.3%
2017 37.97 947th 1429 33.7%
2018 21.13 1197th 1434 16.5%
2019 23.50 1214th 1473 17.6%
2021 17.76 1249th 1489 16.1%
2022 26.13 1154th 1514 23.8%
2023 10.49 1411th 1502 6.1%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 30.90 1039th 1361 23.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 60.64 239th 896 73.3%
2022 35.74 611th 927 34.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Wilmington Preparatory Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 39.58 468th 662 29.3%
2013 27.96 488th 673 27.5%
2014 18.71 525th 627 16.3%
2015 42.20 415th 705 41.1%
2016 39.77 441st 692 36.3%
2017 55.72 322nd 694 53.6%
2018 35.11 470th 691 32.0%
2019 43.76 434th 737 41.1%
2021 8.57 700th 741 5.5%
2022 18.66 667th 786 15.1%
2024 48.80 406th 793 48.8%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 59.12 222nd 639 65.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 4.62 704th 711 1.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.91 174th 494 64.8%
2022 33.84 373rd 550 32.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Wilmington Preparatory Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)
60%

20%

0%

0%

20%

  

Reviews:
by a teacher
Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Open Quote excellent teachers, great office staff, fantastic families, terrific students! Close Quote


by a teacher
Friday, October 14, 2011

Open Quote The teachers and staff at WPA have the student as their top priority. There is a dedicated and supportive staff who work hard to help each student succeed. I personally work extra hard to individualize instruction to meet the needs of each student. The curriculum used is data driven and proven to work, yet the teachers are given the flexibility to adapt lessons to meet student needs. Working in a smaller school makes WPA like a family where everyone knows one another and works together to provide the best school experience for all of our students. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Open Quote The staff at this school have got to be kidding! They are very unprofessional and do not own up to their responsibility. They are extremely messy in how they manage the school and their people skills are very lacking to say the least. The one person at the front desk appears flustered if more than one thing is going on at a time and since this IS an elementary school, 90% of the time there's at least 3 or more things happening at once. Ms. Robinson, who is part founder of WPA, is as unprofessional and as messy as her staff. They offer transportation but it seems that it is never available. Either the bus is broken down, sent away for inspection, or the bus driver (both the permanant driver AND the substitute driver) has neglected to show up for work. Each time I've voiced a complaint to anyone there, I'm looked at like I'm the issue. Not once has anyone there sat me down, apologized and asked me to bear with them. In fact, I was told by Ms. Robinson (who is part founder as I understand it) that my child does not have to come back since this is a "parents choice" school. Wow. That was just the last straw for me. If you have a very low tolerance for messiness, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL!!! I plan on taking this a lot further. Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, June 4, 2011

Open Quote This school has been perfect for my son! The small class size is important to me. They work the kids hard on the 3 R's but there's a lot of fun stuff going on too. I'll give them FIVE stars after we get in the new building next month! Close Quote


by a teacher
Friday, December 24, 2010

Open Quote Wilmington Preparatory Academy is a Public Charter school whose teachers and administrators fully supports the holistic development of all students that enter this noble institution.
This school offers small class sizes wherein students recieves the necessary individualize instruction that all child deserves. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Wilmington Preparatory Academy

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2008 8 62 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 70
2009 34 80 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 114
2010 17 115 0 1 1 n/a n/a 0 134
2011 22 56 0 3 0 0 7 0 88
2012 38 81 1 9 0 0 8 0 137
2013 53 64 0 10 0 0 13 0 140
2014 60 59 0 9 0 0 5 0 133
2015 52 64 0 15 0 0 5 0 136
2016 44 79 0 17 0 0 7 0 147
2017 40 88 0 12 0 0 6 0 146
2018 36 88 0 10 0 0 8 0 142
2019 38 68 0 11 0 0 12 0 129
2020 28 84 0 9 0 0 8 0 129
2021 32 76 0 9 0 0 6 0 123
2022 26 63 0 8 0 0 8 0 105
2023 24 59 0 9 0 0 5 0 97

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Wilmington Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 70 7.0 10.0 n/a
2009 114 2.0 57.0 n/a
2010 134 13.0 10.3 n/a
2011 88 8.7 10.0 62.5
2012 137 11.0 12.4 56.9
2013 140 13.3 10.5 69.3
2014 133 11.4 11.6 51.1
2015 136 11.0 12.3 57.4
2016 147 12.0 12.2 57.1
2017 146 11.8 12.3 53.4
2018 142 12.2 11.5 47.2
2019 129 11.9 10.8 79.1
2020 129 10.7 12.0 n/a
2021 123 10.0 12.3 n/a
2022 105 11.0 9.5 n/a
2023 97 10.1 9.5 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Wilmington Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 70 7.0 10.0 n/a
2009 114 2.0 57.0 n/a
2010 134 13.0 10.3 n/a
2011 88 8.7 10.0 62.5
2012 137 11.0 12.4 56.9
2013 140 13.3 10.5 69.3
2014 133 11.4 11.6 51.1
2015 136 11.0 12.3 57.4
2016 147 12.0 12.2 57.1
2017 146 11.8 12.3 53.4
2018 142 12.2 11.5 47.2
2019 129 11.9 10.8 79.1
2020 129 10.7 12.0 n/a
2021 123 10.0 12.3 n/a
2022 105 11.0 9.5 n/a
2023 97 10.1 9.5 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wilmington Preparatory Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1214th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 1411th of 1502 Elementary schools
 11.5%
Ranks 434th of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 667th of 786 Middle schools
 26%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)46.250
 3.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.357.3
 7%
3rd Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)53.850
 3.8%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.846.5
 10.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)33.316.7
 16.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.349.9
 7.4%
4th Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)16.741.7
 25%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.351.4
 5.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)53.830
 23.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)23.130
 6.9%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)38.530
 8.5%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)42.931.3
 11.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.850.4
 8.4%
6th Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)64.337.5
 26.8%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6047.5
 12.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)2518.2
 6.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)58.345.5
 12.8%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)28.618.2
 10.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.642.3
 10.3%
8th Grade Reading (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)57.136.4
 20.7%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.650.7
 4.9%
8th Grade Science (Wilmington Preparatory Academy)92.954.5
 38.4%
   8th Grade Science (North Carolina)78.673.4
 5.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students12997
 24.8%
African American6859
 13.2%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic119
 18.2%
Pacific Islander00
White3824
 36.8%
Two or More Races125
 58.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Wilmington Preparatory Academy

In the 2022-23 school year, 97 students attended Wilmington Preparatory Academy.

Students at Wilmington Preparatory Academy are 61% African American, 25% White, 9% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.


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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.





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