Wilmington Early College High

Summary:

Wilmington Early College High is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, with a student population of 255. This school consistently outperforms the New Hanover County Schools district and the state of North Carolina in academic metrics, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking among the top 100 high schools in the state.

Wilmington Early College High's academic excellence is evident in its exceptional end-of-course (EOC) test scores, which far surpass the district and state averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had a 96.4% proficiency rate in EOC English II, compared to 67.4% for the district and 59.7% for the state. The school also excels in the performance of various student subgroups, including female students, male students, African American students, Hispanic students, and white students, consistently ranking in the top 100 high schools in the state for these subgroups.

Despite the school's high academic performance, it serves a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, as over 98% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This highlights Wilmington Early College High's ability to provide a high-quality education to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Interestingly, the school's diverse student population, with a racial makeup of approximately 59% white, 19% African American, and 17% Hispanic, is not as pronounced in some of the nearby schools, such as John T. Hoggard High, which has a higher percentage of white students.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 4500 Blue Clay Rd
       Castle Hayne, NC  28429


(910) 362-7789

District: New Hanover County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
95th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,673 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  21.1 Help
Number of students:  255

Racial breakdown:

White:
58.8%
African American:
18.8%
Hispanic:
16.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  98.8% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

 Compare Wilmington Early College High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Wilmington Early College High ranks better than 85.2% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2nd among 9 ranked high schools in the New Hanover County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 88.33. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Wilmington Early College High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (58.8%), African American (18.8%), Hispanic (16.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 98.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wilmington Early College High is 21.1, which is the highest among 9 high schools in the New Hanover County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Wilmington Early College High employs 12 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wilmington Early College High is $8,673, which is the lowest among 9 high schools in the New Hanover County Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wilmington Early College High:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilmington Early College High 95th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Wilmington Early College High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


New Hanover County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks New Hanover County Schools 70th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Wilmington Early College High?

Rank History for Wilmington Early College High

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 94.42 35th 594 94.1%
2022 86.15 100th 621 83.9%
2023 95.12 24th 626 96.2%
2024 88.33 95th 640 85.2%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 83.46 81st 544 85.1%
2023 96.96 28th 597 95.3%
2024 88.69 89th 613 85.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 82.65 101st 594 83.0%
2023 94.69 20th 588 96.6%
2024 82.65 117th 602 80.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 60.61 185th 398 53.5%
2023 81.45 16th 403 96.0%
2024 78.53 45th 403 88.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 90.39 80th 585 86.3%
2023 95.17 38th 602 93.7%
2024 92.78 61st 607 90.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 88.23 51st 430 88.1%
2023 97.92 19th 434 95.6%
2024 96.63 28th 437 93.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 74.69 92nd 436 78.9%
2023 96.28 28th 449 93.8%
2024 84.18 72nd 454 84.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Wilmington Early College High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 83.39 91st 534 83.0%
2023 94.28 17th 537 96.8%
2024 87.51 81st 553 85.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White 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 Early College High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Thursday, April 21, 2016

Open Quote The administration has no respect students privacy. Uses general terms to bypass and confidentiality. Would not recommend doing any counseling or private talk anywhere near any faculty or staff - definitely not near the principal. Close Quote


by a student
Monday, February 1, 2010

Open Quote Awesome school! Great diversity and also great teachers to help you when you need it. Freshman year is pretty hard, but your student will get use to it after that year. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Wilmington Early College High

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2008 20 33 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 57
2009 38 41 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 84
2010 62 57 4 6 0 n/a n/a 0 129
2011 91 68 6 13 0 0 9 0 187
2012 93 57 7 18 0 0 15 0 190
2013 87 61 7 14 0 0 6 0 175
2014 90 53 6 20 0 0 6 0 175
2015 101 53 6 22 0 0 7 0 189
2016 107 60 4 22 0 0 7 0 200
2017 130 66 6 21 0 0 6 0 229
2018 137 64 5 27 0 0 11 0 244
2019 147 56 5 30 1 0 12 0 251
2020 157 50 7 37 1 0 11 0 263
2021 146 40 5 41 1 0 14 0 247
2022 151 35 5 41 0 0 11 0 243
2023 150 48 6 43 0 0 8 0 255

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 Early College High

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 57 5.1 11.2 n/a
2009 84 7.9 10.6 38.1
2010 129 9.0 14.3 34.1
2011 187 10.0 18.7 40.1
2012 190 8.3 22.8 45.8
2013 175 9.0 19.4 49.1
2014 175 9.0 19.3 57.7
2015 189 9.0 21.0 44.4
2016 200 9.0 22.2 43
2017 229 9.0 25.4 42.8
2018 244 10.1 24.0 33.6
2019 251 10.4 24.1 46.2
2020 263 10.8 24.2 98.5
2021 247 11.3 21.7 98.8
2022 243 12.0 20.0 98.8
2023 255 12.0 21.1 98.8

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 Early College High

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2008 57 5.1 11.2 n/a
2009 84 7.9 10.6 38.1
2010 129 9.0 14.3 34.1
2011 187 10.0 18.7 40.1
2012 190 8.3 22.8 45.8
2013 175 9.0 19.4 49.1
2014 175 9.0 19.3 57.7
2015 189 9.0 21.0 44.4
2016 200 9.0 22.2 43
2017 229 9.0 25.4 42.8
2018 244 10.1 24.0 33.6
2019 251 10.4 24.1 46.2
2020 263 10.8 24.2 98.5
2021 247 11.3 21.7 98.8
2022 243 12.0 20.0 98.8
2023 255 12.0 21.1 98.8

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.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Wilmington Early College High

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $273 (3.1%) $8,400 (96.9%) $8,673

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wilmington Early College High

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.

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Wilmington Early College High)87.989.7
 1.8%
   End of Course Biology (New Hanover County Schools)6754.8
 12.2%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Wilmington Early College High)88.596.4
 7.9%
   End of Course English II (New Hanover County Schools)64.763.8
 0.9%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Wilmington Early College High)84.292.6
 8.4%
   End of Course Math I (New Hanover County Schools)42.540.1
 2.4%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Wilmington Early College High)83.198.8
 15.7%
   End of Course Math III (New Hanover County Schools)49.165.4
 16.3%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students251255
 1.6%
African American5648
 14.3%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian56
 20%
Hispanic3043
 43.3%
Pacific Islander00
White147150
 2%
Two or More Races128
 33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients46.2%98.8%
 52.6%


Schools Near Wilmington Early College High









Frequently Asked Questions about Wilmington Early College High

In the 2022-23 school year, 255 students attended Wilmington Early College High.

Students at Wilmington Early College High are 59% White, 19% African American, 17% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Wilmington Early College High ranks 95th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


Rate Wilmington Early College High!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Wilmington Early College High!




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.





Diagnostics
y12_370333002915 retrieved from Memory in 0 milliseconds.
None retrieved from Database in 623 milliseconds.