The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Career Readiness Academy at Mosley Plc
Career Readiness Academy at Mosley PLC is a public alternative high school in Wilmington serving grades 9 through 12. This is not a typical college-preparatory pathway; it is a specialized program designed to connect secondary education directly to workforce entry and career pathways.
The school's enrollment is small, concentrated in the upper grades with the largest cohort in grade 12. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is ethnically diverse, with no single group forming a majority. The school draws from a community experiencing sustained population growth, rising housing costs, and widening gaps between available housing and what many families can afford.
On the most recent state assessments available, the school showed a split performance profile. In English language arts, proficiency ran well above the threshold for basic competency, with a solid majority of tested students meeting grade-level standards. In mathematics, proficiency was considerably lower, with fewer than half of tested students reaching proficiency. Because this is an alternative school serving students who may have left traditional high school pathways or who are pursuing a different educational model, the typical achievement metrics carry a different weight than they would in a standard comprehensive high school. These results should be interpreted through that context: some students in alternative settings come with significant academic gaps, and for them, career-focused instruction and credentials earned alongside traditional coursework may matter more than end-of-grade test performance alone.
The school's name signals its core mission. Career Readiness Academy programs pair classroom learning with real-world skill development, work-based learning opportunities, and industry certification, often including dual-credit pathways through community colleges or direct entry into apprenticeships or technical careers. This approach suits students who are motivated by visible, near-term connection between what they study and what they can do or earn after graduation. Families looking for an alternative to traditional high school structure, or students already leaning toward trade, technical, or applied-career pathways rather than four-year college, may find alignment here.
The school's location in Wilmington places it in a region with diverse employment anchors: healthcare (Novant Health is the largest employer in the region), technology and fintech (nCino and others), energy and nuclear operations (GE Hitachi), clinical research, port logistics, and a long-standing film and television production cluster. These industries create genuine demand for skilled workers, apprentices, and certificate-holders, which gives structure and relevance to a career-focused curriculum in a way it might not in a community with fewer such opportunities.
State testing data on graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and special-education and English-learner enrollment counts were not available in the reported data, which is common for alternative schools because some measure graduation differently (through earned credentials rather than traditional transcripts) or serve populations with smaller numbers in specific subgroups. A parent considering this school should ask the school directly about graduation and credential-completion rates, what career pathways are offered, which industry certifications and dual-credit programs are available, what employers actively recruit from the program, and how placement support works after students earn their credentials.
New Hanover County Schools is undertaking a major facilities and curriculum refresh, with a bond referendum slated for November 2026 and a new endowment commitment to improve schools across the district. The district has also incorporated local African American history, including the Freeman family and Seabreeze Resort, into its curriculum, and recently strengthened cell phone policies to reduce cyberbullying. These moves reflect a district engaged with both physical infrastructure and the cultural and social dimensions of schooling.
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