With numerous higher education options, it is only natural that the area has excellent preparatory education as well. The New Hanover County School System serves more than 24,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in 42 schools in the city of Wilmington and the county, including the beach communities of Figure Eight Island, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

Through the ABCs of Public Education, end-of-grade tests measure student achievement in reading and math for grades 3 through 8. High school students take end-of-course tests in 10 subjects. In school year 2006-07, New Hanover County Schools had five Honor Schools of Excellence, which means 90 percent or more of students at grade level met or exceeded growth and also met the federal standard of Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind act; one School of Excellence (90 percent or more of students are grade level, met or exceeded growth) nine Schools of Distinction (80 percent or more of students at grade level, met or exceeded growth) and nine Schools of Progress (60 percent or more of students at grade level, met or exceeded growth). Combined SAT scores were 1025, compared to 1010 for the state and 1028 nationally, which puts New Hanover County schools above the state scores and in line with the national average.

The system has had the benefit of tremendous support from the business community and community volunteers who contribute in many different ways, including tutoring, working to lower the dropout rate and offering opportunities for students to gain exposure to the corporate realm beyond the classroom. The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, a community education support organization, provides an estimated $10,000 annually to fund mini-grants to support classroom teachers. Other businesses in the area have shown tremendous support for the school system, including a large grant initiative with the GE Foundation and significant volunteer support from GE staff.

Most recent figures are for the 2007-08 school year, which showed the New Hanover County Schools’ operating budget was $215,096,095, with approximately 52 percent coming from the state, 34 percent from local monies, 5 percent from the federal government and 9 percent from other sources. Per-pupil expenditure is $8,330.

The system is organized as kindergarten through grade 5, grades 6 through 8, and grades 9 through 12, using the middle school concept instead of junior high schools. New Hanover County Schools have three pre-kindergarten centers, which are apart of Governor Easley’s More at Four program. The school year runs from August until early June, although year-round schooling is now available at Johnson Elementary, Codington Elementary and Eaton Elementary schools. The year-round program is voluntary for students and teachers. After considerable investigation, the Board of Education found that the advantages of year-round schooling include increased learning, a reduction in stress levels for both students and teachers, greater opportunity for effective enrichment and remediation, and higher motivation.

New Hanover County Schools offers two early college high schools, Isaac Bear Early College High School in partnership with the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Wilmington Early College High School in partnership with Cape Fear Community College. While attending the early college high schools, students have the opportunity to gain college credit hours or work toward completing an associate’s degree in art or science.

Three elementary magnet schools, Gregory School of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Rachel Freeman School of Engineering, and Snipes Academy of Art and Design, offer students curriculums with specific areas of study integrated throughout all grade levels and subject areas.

Lakeside High School is an academic alternative/school-of-choice for students in grades 9 through 12 who qualify for admittance. There are four senior high schools in New Hanover County, and seven middle schools that feed into these according to district lines. The county student population is approximately 36 percent minority enrollment.

More than 250 courses are available to high school students, including social studies, mathematics, computer science, English, foreign languages and the full range of sciences. Students can participate in Army, Navy and Air Force JROTC Honor units as well as a broad range of extracurricular activities and programs. There are many programs in vocational education, including marine sciences and oceanography. A cultural arts curriculum includes band, orchestra, chorus, drama, art and dance. Middle schools offer a similar, though more limited, curriculum to that of the senior high schools.

Elementary schools emphasize hands-on experience in all disciplines. Elementary school students participate in a curriculum based on the use of manipulatives and inquiry to build a foundation that will support the learning of concepts in the middle grades and high school. A comprehensive program has been designed for exceptional children at all grade levels.