The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Science. The lowest is 26% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Edwin a Alderman Elementary
Edwin A Alderman Elementary serves grades K through 5 in Wilmington, a mid-sized coastal city where downtown preserves 19th-century architecture and a walkable riverfront alongside suburban neighborhoods and beach-oriented growth. The school sits on Independence Boulevard in a part of the city that is auto-oriented, away from the historic downtown core that draws tourists and residents to the Riverwalk and historic district.
The student population is almost entirely economically disadvantaged. A near-universal share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is small for an elementary school serving all primary grades, and the racial composition is roughly split between Black and white students, with a meaningful share of Hispanic students and smaller Asian and multiracial populations. The school's grade distribution is relatively even across the primary grades, suggesting steady or slightly declining total enrollment.
Academic performance is substantially below proficiency. On the state's End-of-Grade assessments, reading proficiency sits at a low level, math proficiency is similarly depressed, and science proficiency, while measurably higher than reading and math, remains below half. These results place the school well below the midpoint among districts in New Hanover County. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about what reading and math interventions are in place, whether intensive small-group instruction is standard, and what staffing supports exist for struggling learners. The data do not show whether the school has specialized programs, whether any English learner support is available, or what the attendance or chronic absenteeism rates are.
New Hanover County Schools is in motion. The district has placed a major school facilities bond on the November 2026 ballot that would replace Pine Valley Elementary and Trask Middle School, build a new elementary school in the fast-growing Riverlights master-planned community, and begin a master plan for New Hanover High School. A community endowment has committed substantial matching funds contingent on voter approval. The board has also approved curriculum changes to embed the history of the Freeman family and the Seabreeze Resort, a historically Black coastal resort, into instruction, grounding African American local history in what students learn. Cell phone policy has tightened to reduce cyberbullying and protect student privacy during school hours. These shifts suggest an active board and district working on both infrastructure and curriculum.
Wilmington itself is experiencing rapid growth, with the metro area among the fastest-growing in the nation and median home prices roughly doubling over the past decade. Much of that growth is spilling into neighboring Brunswick County because New Hanover County is nearly built out. Housing affordability and traffic are top resident concerns. The local economy is anchored by Novant Health hospital, UNCW, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, nCino fintech, and the Port of Wilmington. The broader region offers walkable downtown amenities, parks including Greenfield Park and Long Leaf Park, a public library system, and Wave Transit bus service, though most daily life outside the historic district requires a car. This is a community in flux, with real estate appreciation but also real affordability stress and infrastructure strain.
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