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B+
Schools in Rocky Point · Pender County Schools

Rocky Point’s public schools outscore 68% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Rocky Point, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
55%
▲ 4 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 8 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.4K
▼ 5% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.7
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
4,067 students on the public path
In brief

Rocky Point’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 326 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rocky Point’s, its schools beat 84%, higher than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 55% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,360 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then six middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is up 16% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Rocky Point’s grade

B Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 68% of North Carolina school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (326)Better than 84%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,243 test results and a graduating class of 823 could put Rocky Point anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Rocky Point’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,001 in math, 5,485 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Rocky Point, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Rocky Point ElementaryPender County SchoolsC+
6–86 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−
9–12Heide Trask HighPender County SchoolsB−

Rocky Point’s public schools are run by Pender County Schools, which also serves Atkinson, Burgaw, St. Helena and Surf City and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 49.9% · 5485 students tested
Math55%
State average 50.8% · 5001 students tested

Rocky Point vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Rocky Point’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Rocky PointB+Pender County Schools

Every school in Rocky Point

8 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Rocky Pointby address
Also serving Rocky Pointin other towns

Questions about Rocky Point’s schools

Are Rocky Point’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Rocky Point children attend outscore 68% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 84%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rocky Point in?

Pender County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,073 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rocky Point kids go to high school?

Heide Trask High, with 732 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Rocky Point’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in Pender County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Rocky Point spend per student?

$12,360 in Pender County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Rocky Point families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rocky Point → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.