The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 49% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Rocky Point Elementary
Rocky Point Elementary serves about children in prekindergarten through fifth grade in an unincorporated rural community in southern Pender County, roughly 20 miles south of Wilmington. The school sits in a landscape of fertile farmland, wide-open land, and tree-lined roads; Rocky Point itself has no traditional downtown but rather consists of homes spread across large rural lots, with small commercial clusters along the highways. The area is undergoing rapid residential development, with multiple large neighborhood projects bringing thousands of new homes and younger families to the area, including mixed-use proposals with marinas and new schools planned nearby.
The student body reflects the community's economic reality and demographic composition. A very substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is racially and ethnically mixed, with a significant share of Hispanic students, a solid minority of white students, and a smaller but meaningful share of Black students. Data on English learner status and special education enrollment was not available.
In the most recent state testing, the school's performance was uneven across subjects. In math, about three-quarters of tested students in grades three through five scored at proficient or above. Science results were similar, with about the same proportion meeting proficiency. English language arts performance, however, was substantially weaker, with about half of tested students reaching proficiency. State testing data for the science assessment changed in design this year, and trend comparison is therefore not yet available. The gap between the school's math and science results on one hand and reading on the other may warrant a closer conversation with school leadership about literacy instruction priorities.
The school is part of Pender County Schools, a district navigating steep growth and substantial investment. Voters approved a major school bond in 2022 to address overcrowding, funding a new K-8 campus in Hampstead scheduled to open in 2027, plus renovations at Rocky Point Elementary itself, Topsail Middle, and Burgaw Middle. That renovation suggests the district recognizes Rocky Point Elementary as needing facility upgrade. The district has also adopted a districtwide Science of Reading approach for early grades, beginning in 2022-2023, which represents a fundamental shift in how literacy is taught. New math, English, and science curricula followed. These curricular changes are still settling in, which may inform how parents read the current achievement picture.
The property tax rate in Pender County has risen to repay the school bond, and the county is conducting a property revaluation in 2026, the first since 2010, with countywide values projected to increase substantially after rapid population growth. Families buying into the Rocky Point area should anticipate a meaningfully higher property tax bill once the revaluation takes effect.
The housing market in the zipcode is active, with median home values recently slightly below the state average and well below national levels, making the area affordable for commuters to Wilmington. Rental housing is tight, with rent-to-income ratios elevated by national standards. The area continues to attract younger families and working professionals priced out of Wilmington proper, drawn by relative affordability and proximity to the Wilmington metro employment base, though most residents drive to Wilmington or nearby Burgaw for downtown-style retail, dining, and civic services. No fixed-route public transit serves the community, so car ownership is essential.
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