News Summary
Wilmington high schools have been highlighted in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, which evaluate educational quality based on various metrics. North Carolina showcased impressive school performances, with schools in Wilmington varying in state and national rankings. This significant assessment provides insights into graduation rates, college readiness, and overall academic achievements, marking a critical benchmark for educational improvement in the area.
Wilmington, North Carolina, High Schools Ranked in 2025 U.S. News & World Report List
Several high schools across the Wilmington area have been ranked in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report list, highlighting the performance and achievements of schools throughout North Carolina. The rankings are based on multiple metrics aimed at assessing the quality of education provided by each high school.
Overview of Rankings and Methodology
The U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 24,000 high schools nationwide, including 587 schools in North Carolina. The state’s schools collectively earned the ranking, placing North Carolina at the 28th position among all states in the country.
North Carolina boasts 51 schools in the top 10% nationwide, reflecting a broad range of high-performing institutions. The top-ranked school within the state is The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, which achieved the 31st spot nationally.
The overall ranking considered several key factors, including college readiness, proficiency and performance on state assessments, underserved student performance, breadth of college curriculum, and graduation rates.
Top-Ranking High Schools in Wilmington and North Carolina
Among the schools evaluated in the Wilmington area, rankings varied based on performance metrics and size. The leading North Carolina school in the national ranking is The Early College at Guilford, but within Wilmington, several schools also performed notably:
Wilmington Schools’ Performance Metrics
School A
- State ranking: 85
- National ranking: 3,144
- Overall score: 82.44
- Graduation rate: Over 95%
- Enrollment: 1,888 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
School B
- State ranking: 89
- National ranking: 3,320
- Overall score: 81.45
- Graduation rate: 88%
- Enrollment: 2,178 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
School C
- State ranking: 115
- National ranking: 4,180
- Overall score: 76.65
- Graduation rate: Over 95%
- Enrollment: 188 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
School D
- State ranking: 117
- National ranking: 4,194
- Overall score: 76.57
- Graduation rate: Over 95%
- Enrollment: 251 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 26:1
School E
- State ranking: 122
- National ranking: 4,194
- Overall score: 75.6
- Graduation rate: Over 95%
- Enrollment: 241 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
Other Notable Schools and Their Standings
- School F: State rank 136, National rank 4,752, score 73.45, graduation >95%, enrollment 322, student-teacher ratio 28:1
- School G: State rank 182, National rank 6,056, score 66.17, graduation rate 88%, enrollment 1,899, student-teacher ratio 19:1
- School H: State rank 234, National rank 7,311, score 59.16, graduation rate 82%, enrollment 1,512, student-teacher ratio 17:1
- School I: State rank 235, National rank 7,337, score 59.01, graduation rate 84%, enrollment 1,182, student-teacher ratio 17:1
- School J: State rank 280, National rank 8,245, score 53.94, graduation rate 92%, enrollment 2,248, student-teacher ratio 20:1
- School K: State rank 298, National rank 8,549, score 52.24, graduation >95%, enrollment 228, student-teacher ratio 17:1
Schools Ranked with Lower Performance
- School L: State rank 319, National rank 9,081, score 49.27, graduation 81%, enrollment 1,560, student-teacher ratio 18:1
- School M: State rank 324, National rank 9,152, score 48.87, graduation 80%, enrollment 1,515, student-teacher ratio 16:1
- School N: State rank 404, National rank 11,746, score 34.38, graduation 91%, enrollment 734, student-teacher ratio 16:1
- School O: Tied with the lowest schools, overall score less than 25, graduation rate 92%, enrollment 672, student-teacher ratio 19:1
Implications of the Rankings
The rankings reflect the varying levels of academic achievement, resources, and student performance across the Wilmington area and the broader state of North Carolina. They serve as an important benchmark for evaluating educational quality and identifying areas for improvement.
The data provides insight into the performance of public high schools, emphasizing graduation rates, college readiness, and assessment outcomes. Overall, North Carolina’s ranking and the distribution of schools reflect a state with several high-performing institutions but also areas where additional support may be needed.
The rankings serve as a tool for students, parents, educators, and policymakers to better understand the landscape of secondary education in North Carolina and to inform decisions aimed at improving educational outcomes across the state.
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Additional Resources
- Star News Online
- Wikipedia: Wilmington, North Carolina
- NC News Online
- Google Search: North Carolina high schools ranking
- Delaware Online
- Google Scholar: High school rankings
- Boston Magazine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High school education
Author: STAFF HERE RALEIGH WRITER
RALEIGH STAFF WRITER The RALEIGH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERERaleigh.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Raleigh, Wake County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh Arts Festival, and the Hopscotch Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Visit Raleigh, plus leading businesses in technology and education that power the local economy such as Red Hat and NC State University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
