Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Pender County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
19
Schools
10,941
Students
$12,071
Per-Pupil Spend
-16% nat'l
47.4%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
93.1%
Graduation Rate
+6.6pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Pender County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 10,941 students across 19 schools. It includes 9 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 93.1% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,071 is below the national average for a US public school district. 47% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (19)
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Burgaw Middle06–08257
Cape Fear Middle06–08462
Surf City Middle06–08705
Topsail Middle05–08807
West Pender Middle06–08179
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Heide Trask High09–12720
Pender Early College High09–13203
Pender High09–12677
Topsail High09–121,777
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Pender Innovative Learning AcademyKG–1299
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,071-16% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
57%
22%
State
56.8%
Local (property tax)
22.0%
Federal
21.2%

State funding accounts for 57% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
19
Schools
10,941
Students
47%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate93.1%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
93.1% graduation rate — 6.6 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 19 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average per-pupil spending
At $12,071, spending is 16% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
21% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Pender County Schools?
Pender County Schools has 19 public schools, serving a total of 10,941 students.
What is the graduation rate for Pender County Schools?
The graduation rate is 93.1%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Pender County Schools spend per student?
Pender County Schools spends $12,071 per pupil — 16% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Pender County Schools?
47% of students in Pender County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Pender County Schools?
No, Pender County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Pender County Schools serve?
Pender County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Pender County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Pender County Schools is 36/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
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.