Photo: Chris Currivan · CC BY-SA 3.0Sunset Beach’s public schools outscore 52% of North Carolina districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Sunset Beach, 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.
Sunset Beach’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 261 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sunset Beach’s, its schools beat 44%, lower than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 50% and math 55% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $13,563 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Ten elementary schools, then six middle and four high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 12% 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.
What’s behind Sunset Beach’s grade
B−: better than 52% of North Carolina school districts, #144 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores are above the North Carolina average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sunset Beach, with each school’s own grade.
Sunset Beach’s public schools are run by Brunswick County Schools. 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.
Close to the state in reading
Sunset Beach vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Sunset Beach’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Beach | B− | Brunswick County Schools |
| Calabash | B− | Brunswick County Schools |
Every school in Sunset Beach
19 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).
Questions about Sunset Beach’s schools
Are Sunset Beach’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Sunset Beach children attend outscore 52% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #144 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Sunset Beach in?
Brunswick County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 13,561 students in 20 schools (2024–25).
Where do Sunset Beach kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: North Brunswick High, West Brunswick High, South Brunswick High and Brunswick County Early College.
What is Sunset Beach’s graduation rate?
84% of the class of 2023 in Brunswick County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Sunset Beach spend per student?
$13,563 in Brunswick County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Sunset Beach families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sunset Beach → 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.