March 2024 | Wilmington, North Carolina
Are you in the midst of deciding which school is best for your child? We have a variety of options here in New Hanover County, including our public school system, New Hanover County Schools (NHCS). Within NHCS, you can choose from many year-round, magnet, and open-choice options—twenty-five to be exact! So many parents I have spoken to think that their zoned, neighborhood school is their only choice. But knowing all of your options can help you make the best decision for your child, your family, and your circumstances. Keep reading to learn more about each type of school and why it might be the right fit for your family!
“Traditional” or “Neighborhood”
First, we have zoned schools, also known as “traditional” or “neighborhood” schools. These schools guarantee enrollment for your child based on your address—think shorter bus trips, possibly walking distance! You can easily find your zoned school by going to croppermap.com/nhcs. Simply type in your address in the search bar, and the site will list your assigned elementary, middle, and high school. Your zoned school will cover all the basics, ELA (English Language Arts), math, history, science, and the typical specials (music, PE, library, art). All offer at least a 30-minute recess every day, and some offer some extra outdoor time when scheduling and weather allows! Schools throughout New Hanover County are assessed and given a School Performance Grades of A-F.
Visit the NC Reports website to learn more about your zoned school’s most recent grade. But the best way to get a feel for the school is to go on an in-person tour so that you can talk to the staff one-on-one!
Year-round Schools
Year-round schools are another K-5 option, that also include bus transportation. You must enter the lottery to have a chance to attend the year-round school in your area.
- If you are north of Market or Eastwood, you are zoned for Eaton.
- If you are south of those roads, your year-round option is Codington.
Many families love the year-round schedule that typically consists of 9 weeks on and 3 weeks off (with a 4 week break over the summer), with a goal of decreasing “learning loss” over a long summer break. The challenge can be if you have another child who is on a traditional school schedule with a longer summer. As always, you have to consider what works best for your family.
Magnet Schools
NHCS also offers three magnet school options. A magnet school is one that pulls from all over the county using a lottery system, and each has an over-arching theme that is integrated into their curriculum.
These schools are:
- Freeman (K-5), which is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) school
- Snipes (K-5), which is an arts and design school
- Gregory (K-8), which offers a bilingual curriculum. At Gregory, days alternate between Spanish and English so that children can become immersed and fully fluent in both languages.
These can be great options for students who are showing a strong interest in one of these areas.
Open Choice Schools
Lastly, we have open choice schools. These are traditional, neighborhood schools… but not your neighborhood school. Again, another lottery! Schools are able to offer open choice seats as long as they are not over-crowded, and if they have space in the grade for which you are applying. This differs from grade-to-grade and year-to-year. The best way to find out how many seats may be available is to call the school and ask. Get your information directly from the source!
Deadlines
Don’t forget to keep an eye on deadlines! For your zoned school, there isn’t an official deadline, but applying earlier assists the school in planning appropriately for the year ahead. In addition, you must apply to your zoned school before any other applications will be accepted. For year-round, magnet, and open choice schools, the deadline is April 12th. Don’t wait until the last minute! Go ahead and submit your applications as soon as you have made your decisions. You can apply for up to three schools outside of your zoned school. Visit https://www.nhcs.net/divisions/student-support-services/enrollment to apply.
Phew! That was a lot! Hopefully this gave you some good information about all of your options for our local public school system. Between your zoned school, year-round schools, magnet schools, and open-choice schools, you have so many choices! If you are looking to tour any of these schools, simply call the school’s main office and make an appointment. But don’t forget about that April 12th deadline! If you have any questions, I’m here for you!
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