The Wilmington area provides superior educational facilities for students
from preschool all the way through graduate school.

Lifelong learning is supported and encouraged in the Wilmington area, which boasts seven public libraries in New Hanover and Pender County.

The southern North Carolina coast is served by three separate public school systems. New Hanover County has the largest system (10th largest in the state), as it encompasses Wilmington, the largest city on the state's coastline. Last year, the system served 21,324 students in 33 schools. The budget for New Hanover County Schools was more than $125 million last year. Of the total budget, 70 percent was used directly for instructional costs. The system is organized as K-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12, implementing a middle school concept of using junior high schools.

There are more than 288 courses available to students at the four senior high schools in New Hanover County, including social studies, mathematics, computer science, English, foreign languages, and the full range of sciences. Students can participate in ROTC programs, as well as a broad range of extracurricular activities and programs. A cultural arts curriculum includes band, orchestra, chorus, drama, art, and dance, and the interscholastic programs offer a number of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, golf, tennis, lacrosse, and track. While still in high school, students in the New Hanover County public system may engage in advanced studies at Cape Fear Community College and also at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

In addition to the strong public schooling system, the region offers a growing list of private schools, both secular and religion-based, that meet an extensive range of educational requirements. These renowned private schools provide sound education and focused preparation for all ages.

For those wishing to attend college, Wilmington offers several outlets for moving forward in your education. The Miller-Motte Business college and Cape Fear Community College both offer degree and certification programs, preparing students for a plethora of career prospects. Beyond that, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nearly 60 areas of study.

Ranked as one of the top ten public universities in the south by US News and World Report, UNCW boasts an enrollment of 9,500 students. UNCW has become a leader in the use of technology and employs distance learning and hypermedia in the teaching of its classes, and it continues to lead in this area with the utilization of the new Division for Strategic Information, where students have access to computers and a vast network of information systems beyond the walls of the university. In response to increased enrollment, UNCW has added 44 new educators to its award-winning faculty and continues to build new programs and facilities to accomodate future growth.

Explore the vast educational opportunities that await you and your family in Wilmington, North Carolina... Committed to lifelong learning and unlimited enrichment possibilities.

CHECK OUT THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY TEST SCORES