Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 42 schools in district

Isaac M Bear Early College High School

630 MacMillan Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403New Hanover County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
226
Students
Total enrolled
93%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↑ 7% vs nat'l
$14,481
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
20.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 34% vs nat'l
51/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 226 students in grades 09–12 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,481 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 51th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Isaac M Bear Early College High School is a mid-sized high in Wilmington, North Carolina, serving grades 09–12 with 226 students. The district invests $14,481 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 17% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community. The school's 93% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at Isaac M Bear Early College High School

226
Total Students
20.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
17%
Free Lunch
11
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution91 male · 135 female
40%
60%
Male 40%Female 60%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility17%
National avg 52% · 39 students
Student Composition
8%
63%
17%
Asian8%
White63%
Hispanic / Latino17%
Black7%
Multiracial4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370333002888

Academic Outcomes at Isaac M Bear Early College High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
GE90
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
93%
State avg
84%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
51
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 51th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 82th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28403

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,481Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,481
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,372
Student Support$2,751
Administration$1,738
Operations$2,172
Other$1,448
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,481 spent per student, an estimated $6,415 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
52%
29%
State government
51.7%
Local (property tax)
29.4%
Federal programs
18.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 93% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 17% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Ogden ElementaryEdwin A Anderson ElementaryPorters Neck ElementaryMasonboro Elementary
+15 more
↓
Middle
Charles P Murray MiddleRoland-Grise MiddleHolly Shelter MiddleWilliston Middle
+3 more
↓
High School
John T Hoggard HighEmsley A Laney HighEugene Ashley HighNew Hanover High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountyNew Hanover County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictNew Hanover County Schools →
Phone: (910)350-1387
NCES ID: 370333002888
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Wilmington seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing strong graduation outcomes and academic completion. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in New Hanover County Schools
High
John T Hoggard High
2,226 students · 09–12
● 51 opp30% FRL
High
Emsley A Laney High
2,220 students · 09–12
42% FRL
High
Eugene Ashley High
1,975 students · 09–12
34% FRL
High
New Hanover High
1,466 students · 09–12
100% FRL
Mid
Charles P Murray Middle
882 students · 06–08
34% FRL
Mid
Roland-Grise Middle
860 students · 06–08
● 51 opp32% FRL
Mid
Holly Shelter Middle
858 students · 06–08
100% FRL
Mid
Williston Middle
683 students · 06–08
100% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
630 MacMillan Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.