U.S. News and World Report releases a list of best elementary school rankings every year based on their ability to educate students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, further setting them up for success.
Several Wilmington-area elementary schools ranked in the 2025 list based on certain methodology. Half of the formula includes assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. The other half of the formula incorporated test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics.
“In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students,” according to the U.S. News and World Report’s methodology.
Here’s a look at the Wilmington-area elementary schools that ranked in the top 50. The rankings are out of 1,456 schools.
At Wrightsville Beach Elementary, 92% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 87% scored at or above that level for reading, according to the ranking. About 9% of the school’s population is economically disadvantaged.
At Masonboro Elementary, 93% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 84% scored at or above that level for reading. About 17% of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged.
At Union Elementary, which is in Shallotte, 89% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math and 80% scored at or above that level for reading. About 99% of the students at Union are economically disadvantaged.
At Ogden Elementary, 88% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 81% scored at or above that level for reading. About 16% of the students at Odgen are economically disadvantaged.
Eaton Elementary has 85% of students who scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 76% scored at or above that level for reading. About 29% of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged.
“We are deeply honored by the recognition of our schools by U.S. News & World Report on their best schools list,” said Christopher Barnes, interim superintendent for New Hanover County Schools, in statement to the StarNews. “This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our incredible teachers and staff, whose commitment to excellence shines every day.”
Barnes added, “It’s inspiring to see that 93% of our district’s teachers met or exceeded growth expectations, and 80% of our schools achieved similar success. These numbers are a testament to the strength of our educational community, and they motivate us to keep building on this momentum. Together, we look forward to reaching even greater heights.”
The No. 1 school in the state was Lincoln Academy, located in Greensboro. The school has 51% of students scoring at or above the proficient level for math and 61% scoring at or above that level for reading. About 57% of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged.
