- Enrollment
- 2,243
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Wilmington, NC
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
Federal NCES profile for Isaac M Bear Early College High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370333002888
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 94
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Isaac M Bear Early College High School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 5
- high schools in Wilmington · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 26:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 16.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Isaac M Bear Early College High School has class sizes larger than 97% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Isaac M Bear Early College High School ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Wilmington, NC.
School address
District: New Hanover County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370333002888 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Isaac M Bear Early College High School grew from 226 students in 2022-23 to 251 in 2023-24 (+11.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 10.9 → 9.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 370333002888 · Wilmington, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
260 enr · 26:1 · 16.4% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Emsley a Laney High (2,243 students)
Isaac M Bear Early College High School grew from 226 students in 2022-23 to 251 in 2023-24 (+11.1%). Teacher FTE lost 10.9 → 9.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Isaac M Bear Early College High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Emsley a Laney
Emsley a Laney High
2,243 students
- John T Hoggard
John T Hoggard High
2,082 students
- Eugene Ashley
Eugene Ashley High
1,893 students
- New Hanover Hi
New Hanover High
1,437 students
- Charles P Murr
Charles P Murray Middle
907 students
- This school 260
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
260 students
What this shows Isaac M Bear Early College High School reports 260 students on the CCD universe file.
How Isaac M Bear Early College High School compares
Isaac M Bear Early College High School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26:1 | ▲ 65% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.4% | ▼ 75% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 260 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
260
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
26:1
students per teacher
- 65% above state mean
Top 97% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
2.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$13,808
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 260 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.3%
Hispanic or Latino 18.1%
Asian 8.8%
Two or More 6.2%
African American 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 62.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.6, Isaac M Bear Early College High School is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for New Hanover County Schools reports $13,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Isaac M Bear Early College High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emsley a Laney High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John T Hoggard High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eugene Ashley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| New Hanover High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Charles P Murray Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Isaac M Bear Early College High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,082
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,893
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,437
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 907
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools in Wilmington
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Emsley a Laney High
Standard public school
2,243 students 19:1 students per teacher
John T Hoggard High
Standard public school
2,082 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Eugene Ashley High
Standard public school
1,893 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
New Hanover High
Standard public school
1,437 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~260 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26:1)
Frequently asked questions about Isaac M Bear Early College High School
How many students attend Isaac M Bear Early College High School?
Isaac M Bear Early College High School has 260 students enrolled. It is a high school in Wilmington, NC. CCD year-over-year: 226 (2022-23) → 251 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Isaac M Bear Early College High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Isaac M Bear Early College High School is 26:1, which is 65% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 66% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Isaac M Bear Early College High School?
16.4% of students at Isaac M Bear Early College High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Isaac M Bear Early College High School?
The largest demographic group at Isaac M Bear Early College High School is White at 62.3% of enrollment, in Wilmington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Isaac M Bear Early College High School?
Isaac M Bear Early College High School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Isaac M Bear Early College High School rank among high schools in Wilmington?
By Resource Investment Index, Isaac M Bear Early College High School ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Wilmington, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Wilmington on the city page.
What other schools are in New Hanover County Schools?
Besides Isaac M Bear Early College High School, New Hanover County Schools also operates Emsley a Laney High (2,243 students), John T Hoggard High (2,082 students), and Eugene Ashley High (1,893 students). See the New Hanover County Schools district page for the complete list.