Is West Pender Middle a good school?

West Pender Middle ranks in the bottom 11.2% of North Carolina middle schools.

How many students attend West Pender Middle?

In the 2022-23 school year, 179 students attended West Pender Middle.

What is the racial makeup of West Pender Middle?

Students at West Pender Middle are 36% African American, 31% White, 28% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of West Pender Middle attend?

Students who attend West Pender Middle usually go on to attend Pender Early College High

West Pender Middle

Summary:

West Pender Middle is a public middle school located in Burgaw, North Carolina, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 179. The school is part of the Pender County Schools district, which is ranked 124 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

West Pender Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina middle schools over the past 10 years, with its highest ranking being 485 out of 692 schools in 2015-2016. In the most recent 2023-2024 school year, it ranked 704 out of 793 middle schools, indicating it is one of the lower-performing middle schools in the state. The school's academic proficiency rates in Mathematics, Reading, and Science are significantly lower than the Pender County Schools district and the state of North Carolina averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 7.8% of 8th-grade students were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 52% for the Pender County Schools district and 46.9% for the state. Additionally, West Pender Middle has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.8% in 2020-2021 to 86.03% in 2022-2023, suggesting a high concentration of students from low-income families.

When comparing West Pender Middle to the nearby schools in the Pender County Schools district, it is clear that West Pender Middle is the lowest-performing. Both Cape Fear Middle and Burgaw Middle outperform West Pender Middle in academic proficiency and statewide rankings. However, it is worth noting that these nearby schools also have high percentages of economically disadvantaged students, suggesting that the challenges faced by West Pender Middle may be common across the district.

Detail:

Public 6-8

10750 NC Hwy 53 West
Burgaw, NC 28425

(910) 283-5626

District: Pender County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
704^th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,639

Students who attend West Pender Middle usually attend:

High:	Pender Early College High
	Pender High

Feeder schools for West Pender Middle:

Elementary:

Malpass Corner Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 179

Racial breakdown:

African American:

35.8%

White:

31.3%

Hispanic:

27.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 86%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare West Pender Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details West Pender Middle ranks worse than 88.8% of middle schools in North Carolina. It also ranks last among 5 ranked middle schools in the Pender County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.52. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details West Pender Middle has the smallest middle school student body size in the Pender County Schools District. Student population at West Pender Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (35.8%), White (31.3%), Hispanic (27.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 86% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Pender County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Pender Middle is 12.7, which is the 2^nd best among 5 middle schools in the Pender County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare West Pender Middle employs 14 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Pender Middle is $11,639, which is the 2^nd highest among 5 middle schools in the Pender County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West Pender Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks West Pender Middle 704^th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See West Pender Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Pender County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Pender County Schools 124^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for West Pender Middle

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Rank History for all students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	58.86	276^th	598	53.8%
2007	55.90	308^th	606	49.2%
2008	51.96	335^th	620	46.0%
2009	45.86	405^th	630	35.7%
2010	41.49	438^th	640	31.6%
2011	44.63	430^th	648	33.6%
2012	54.84	364^th	662	45.0%
2013	41.72	394^th	673	41.5%
2014	20.77	510^th	627	18.7%
2015	27.93	523^rd	705	25.8%
2016	32.03	485^th	692	29.9%
2017	21.17	561^st	694	19.2%
2018	11.16	629^th	691	9.0%
2019	26.10	581^st	737	21.2%
2021	29.61	522^nd	741	29.6%
2022	16.47	684^th	786	13.0%
2023	30.52	553^rd	784	29.5%
2024	15.52	704^th	793	11.2%

See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	48.28	125^th	312	59.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	25.04	402^nd	473	15.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	24.28	495^th	604	18.0%
2019	46.20	351^st	639	45.1%
2021	39.62	373^rd	633	41.1%
2022	28.48	530^th	689	23.1%
2023	43.16	412^th	735	43.9%
2024	23.01	627^th	743	15.6%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	71.25	14^th	71	80.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	11.39	605^th	656	7.8%
2019	28.09	542^nd	684	20.8%
2021	31.16	491^st	706	30.5%
2022	17.61	640^th	733	12.7%
2023	36.55	462^nd	731	36.8%
2024	9.73	701^st	738	5.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	20.81	435^th	475	8.4%
2019	35.15	339^th	504	32.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.16	436^th	452	3.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	11.45	607^th	665	8.7%
2019	24.21	566^th	697	18.8%
2021	29.72	504^th	711	29.1%
2022	17.83	640^th	748	14.4%
2023	27.68	560^th	747	25.0%
2024	21.53	613^th	751	18.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	10.10	478^th	494	3.2%
2019	17.83	481^st	519	7.3%
2021	37.96	313^th	533	41.3%
2022	14.62	520^th	550	5.5%
2023	43.86	292^nd	559	47.8%
2024	24.85	462^nd	560	17.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	40.98	301^st	472	36.2%
2019	63.18	123^rd	493	75.1%
2021	57.49	174^th	522	66.7%
2022	42.79	311^th	541	42.5%
2023	42.87	317^th	553	42.7%
2024	28.27	437^th	564	22.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at West Pender Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	6.14	578^th	596	3.0%
2019	17.43	568^th	624	9.0%
2021	19.47	552^nd	632	12.7%
2022	15.68	606^th	658	7.9%
2023	22.76	547^th	656	16.6%
2024	11.19	619^th	652	5.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle 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.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for West Pender Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	48	165	0	7	2	n/a	n/a	0	222
1989	53	162	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	221
1990	50	165	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	215
1991	49	160	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	-2	209
1992	52	185	0	12	0	n/a	n/a	0	249
1993	42	166	0	12	0	n/a	n/a	0	220
1994	141	181	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	324
1995	154	174	0	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	339
1996	154	174	0	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	339
1997	162	165	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	337
1998	157	153	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	320
1999	166	140	0	15	0	n/a	n/a	0	321
2000	197	141	0	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	356
2001	200	142	0	19	1	n/a	n/a	0	362
2002	88	146	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	244
2003	88	146	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	244
2004	98	138	0	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	250
2005	106	139	0	16	1	n/a	n/a	0	262
2006	102	119	0	17	0	n/a	n/a	0	238
2007	96	108	0	25	0	n/a	n/a	4	233
2008	112	82	0	17	1	n/a	n/a	3	215
2009	105	100	0	23	1	n/a	n/a	0	229
2010	105	104	0	26	1	n/a	n/a	0	236
2011	94	102	0	35	1	0	2	0	234
2012	84	97	0	34	0	0	2	0	217
2013	80	97	0	37	0	1	4	0	219
2014	83	101	1	35	0	0	8	0	228
2015	84	93	1	31	2	0	10	0	221
2016	63	70	0	30	1	0	9	0	173
2017	57	68	0	34	0	0	8	0	167
2018	56	57	1	44	0	0	8	0	166
2019	65	67	1	43	0	0	9	0	185
2020	65	74	1	41	0	0	9	0	190
2021	53	68	0	50	1	0	7	0	179
2022	51	63	0	51	1	0	6	0	172
2023	56	64	0	50	1	0	8	0	179

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 West Pender Middle

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	222	13.0	17.0	60.4
1989	221	13.0	17.0	100
1990	215	14.0	15.3	74
1991	209	14.0	14.9	74.6
1992	249	16.0	15.5	53
1993	220	15.0	14.7	85.5
1994	324	23.0	14.1	49.1
1995	339	22.0	15.4	47.5
1996	339	22.0	15.4	47.5
1997	337	23.0	14.7	49
1998	320	26.0	12.3	52.8
1999	321	26.0	12.3	65.1
2000	356	26.0	13.7	60.7
2001	362	26.0	13.9	59.7
2002	244	16.0	15.3	75.4
2003	244	16.0	15.3	75.4
2004	250	18.0	13.9	76
2005	262	18.0	14.6	74.4
2006	238	18.0	13.2	70.6
2007	233	17.0	13.7	77.7
2008	215	15.6	13.8	74.5
2009	229	17.6	13.0	72.9
2010	236	17.4	13.5	74.2
2011	234	18.4	12.6	76.1
2012	217	17.3	12.5	84.3
2013	219	15.6	13.9	86.8
2014	228	13.7	16.5	85.1
2015	221	16.0	13.8	75.6
2016	173	16.0	10.8	84.4
2017	167	13.1	12.7	82.6
2018	166	14.5	11.4	84.9
2019	185	14.9	12.3	93
2020	190	13.2	14.3	76.3
2021	179	15.3	11.6	64.8
2022	172	14.2	12.0	65.7
2023	179	14.0	12.7	86

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 West Pender Middle

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	222	13.0	17.0	60.4
1989	221	13.0	17.0	100
1990	215	14.0	15.3	74
1991	209	14.0	14.9	74.6
1992	249	16.0	15.5	53
1993	220	15.0	14.7	85.5
1994	324	23.0	14.1	49.1
1995	339	22.0	15.4	47.5
1996	339	22.0	15.4	47.5
1997	337	23.0	14.7	49
1998	320	26.0	12.3	52.8
1999	321	26.0	12.3	65.1
2000	356	26.0	13.7	60.7
2001	362	26.0	13.9	59.7
2002	244	16.0	15.3	75.4
2003	244	16.0	15.3	75.4
2004	250	18.0	13.9	76
2005	262	18.0	14.6	74.4
2006	238	18.0	13.2	70.6
2007	233	17.0	13.7	77.7
2008	215	15.6	13.8	74.5
2009	229	17.6	13.0	72.9
2010	236	17.4	13.5	74.2
2011	234	18.4	12.6	76.1
2012	217	17.3	12.5	84.3
2013	219	15.6	13.9	86.8
2014	228	13.7	16.5	85.1
2015	221	16.0	13.8	75.6
2016	173	16.0	10.8	84.4
2017	167	13.1	12.7	82.6
2018	166	14.5	11.4	84.9
2019	185	14.9	12.3	93
2020	190	13.2	14.3	76.3
2021	179	15.3	11.6	64.8
2022	172	14.2	12.0	65.7
2023	179	14.0	12.7	86

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 West Pender Middle

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$998 (8.6%)	$10,642 (91.4%)	$11,639

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Pender Middle

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 581^st of 737 Middle schools	Ranks 553^rd of 784 Middle schools	8.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (West Pender Middle)	39.7	19.7	20%
6th Grade Mathematics (Pender County Schools)	62.7	55.9	6.8%
6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	58.8	52.3	6.5%
6th Grade Reading (West Pender Middle)	52.1	27.3	24.8%
6th Grade Reading (Pender County Schools)	67.3	49.8	17.5%
6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	60	49.3	10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (West Pender Middle)	46.3	16	30.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Pender County Schools)	55.7	50.4	5.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	58.4	50.1	8.3%
7th Grade Reading (West Pender Middle)	43.3	28	15.3%
7th Grade Reading (Pender County Schools)	60.1	53.1	7%
7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	58.8	50.2	8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (West Pender Middle)	25.8	40	14.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Pender County Schools)	56.9	51.5	5.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	52.6	44.8	7.8%
8th Grade Reading (West Pender Middle)	42.4	55.4	13%
8th Grade Reading (Pender County Schools)	57.4	54.6	2.8%
8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	55.6	51	4.6%
8th Grade Science (West Pender Middle)	70.8	73.8	3%
8th Grade Science (Pender County Schools)	84.6	72	12.6%
8th Grade Science (North Carolina)	78.6	70.3	8.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	185	179	3.2%
African American	67	64	4.5%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	43	50	16.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	65	56	13.8%
Two or More Races	9	8	11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	93%	86%	6.9%

Schools Near West Pender Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOG Mathematics (2024)			EOG Reading (2024)			EOG Science (2024)	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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
West Pender Middle	Public	6-8	10750 NC Hwy 53 West	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 283-5626	179	14	12.7	86.0%	56 (31.3%)	64 (35.8%)	50 (27.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.5%)	15.5	704^th of 793 public middle schools	11.2%		30.5	553^rd of 784 public middle schools	29.5%	151	33.8	20.6	7.8	35.4	35.3	27.5	51.0	$11,639	$998	$10,642
Burgaw Middle	Public	6-8	500 South Wright Street	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 259-0149	257	20	12.6	83.3%	89 (34.6%)	84 (32.7%)	65 (25.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.4%)	16	699^th of 793 public middle schools	11.9%		15.2	689^th of 784 public middle schools	12.1%	10	23.9	23.3	14.6	20.9	31.5	32.9	64.6	$12,822	$1,614	$11,208
Cape Fear Middle	Public	6-8	1886 NC Hwy 133	Rocky Point	28457	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 602-3334	462	33	14.0	70.6%	223 (48.3%)	42 (9.1%)	166 (35.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.1%)	51.3	382^nd of 793 public middle schools	51.8%		39.7	467^th of 784 public middle schools	40.4%	85	61.5	54.4	50.6	36.3	51.0	46.4	64.9	$8,993	$959	$8,034
Holly Shelter Middle	Public	6-8	3921 Roger Haynes Dr	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 602-4046	858	55	15.5	99.7%	415 (48.4%)	198 (23.1%)	175 (20.4%)	19 (2.2%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (5.4%)	68.2	221^st of 793 public middle schools	72.1%		70.8	200^th of 784 public middle schools	74.5%	21	57.1	64.7	59.2	46.4	56.8	62.8	77.6	$10,215	$1,188	$9,026

West Pender Middle

West Pender Middle:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Pender County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for West Pender Middle

Rank History for all students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for English Language Learner students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Special Education students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Homeless students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Female students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Disabled students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Male students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for African American students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for Hispanic students at West Pender Middle

Rank History for White students at West Pender Middle

Enrollment information for West Pender Middle

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Pender Middle

Student/Teacher Ratio West Pender Middle

Per Pupil Expenditures for West Pender Middle

Impact of COVID-19 on West Pender Middle

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near West Pender Middle