The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Science. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Bolivia Elementary
Bolivia Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a small, rural county-seat town in the coastal region east of Wilmington. The school enrolls a modest student body and sits within Brunswick County Schools, a district serving one of North Carolina's fastest-growing counties and currently navigating significant capacity pressures.
The school's student population reflects economic hardship: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In racial and ethnic composition, the school is predominantly white, with meaningful shares of Hispanic and Black students, and a very small number of multiracial learners. The school does not report counts or rates for students with individualized education plans or English learners, so parents seeking information on those supports should contact the school directly.
On North Carolina's End-of-Grade assessments administered in spring 2025, Bolivia Elementary's proficiency results were below the midpoint. In mathematics, about half of students tested met proficiency. In English language arts, proficiency was similar. In science, assessed in only a subset of grades, the proficiency rate was slightly above half. These results place the school at the lower end of performance in the county. The comparison universe for neighboring districts is small—Brunswick County has only four districts—and proficiency comparison data was not computed for this reason. Parents may want to ask the school about its reading and math intervention programs, curriculum materials, and instructional practices for students who did not meet proficiency.
The district is under substantial growth pressure. Bolivia lies within one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, with multiple large master-planned residential communities approved or under development nearby. Elementary schools across the district are already at capacity, and all schools are projected to exceed capacity within the next several years. In November 2026, voters will decide a large school bond referendum aimed at building a new elementary school and a new high school and renovating existing facilities. If it passes, it shapes school capacity and property taxes for years to come. If it fails, the next referendum opportunity is not until 2028. For any family considering a move to Bolivia or surrounding areas, the outcome of this vote is a decisive factor for schooling and housing costs.
The district has adopted a five-year strategic plan focused on standardized curricula across all K-12 tested subjects, expanded work-based learning pathways including internships and dual-college enrollment, and improving the share of schools meeting or exceeding academic growth targets. In late 2022, after parent and teacher concerns, the district paused a planned shift to standards-based grading and preserved traditional 0-100 scale grades. These moves signal an openness to parent input and a focus on career pathways, though the academic performance data shows the district still has foundational achievement challenges to address.
Bolivia Elementary's location in a rural county seat means no walkable downtown and limited commercial life within the immediate area; families drive to nearby Shallotte, Leland, or Wilmington for shopping and services. Housing costs in the zip code are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and the area is attracting new residential development, particularly rental communities and large single-family subdivisions. Parents considering Bolivia Elementary should weigh the school's current proficiency results, the district's capacity and bond outlook, and the rapid development shaping the community's schools and property values.
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