Wilmington School of the Arts

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Wilmington, North Carolina - 1 schools

An equity score of 41/100 ranks Wilmington School of the Arts #160 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,983 per pupil, Wilmington School of the Arts ranks #137 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

201
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$11,983
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wilmington School of the Arts operates 1 public schools serving 201 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in New Hanover County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,983 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.1% local, 57.4% state, and 21.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 41/100, ranked #160 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 297:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 64.6% White, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Wilmington School of the Arts, enrolling 297 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Wilmington School of the Arts accounts for 100.0% of all Wilmington School of the Arts student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Wilmington School of the Arts a distant remainder — means Wilmington School of the Arts-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Wilmington School of the Arts student-counselor ratio is 297:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Wilmington School of the Arts is typically wider than the Wilmington School of the Arts-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Wilmington School of the Arts chronic absenteeism rate is 20.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Wilmington School of the Arts is typically wider than the Wilmington School of the Arts-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

21.5%
Federal
57.4%
State
21.1%
Local

Funding Equity

41
Equity Score
160 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Wilmington School of the Arts.

White 64.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
African American 8.8%
Multiracial 12.8%
Other 3.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

297:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Wilmington School of the Arts

School Enrollment
Wilmington School of the Arts
Charter
297

How Wilmington School of the Arts Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
The Mountain Community Sch Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Tiller School Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Moore Montessori Community School Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Global Scholars Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Oak Hill Charter School Similar size No spending data No revenue-mix data

Comparisons are relative to Wilmington School of the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs Wilmington School of the Arts →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Wilmington School of the Arts →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Wilmington School of the Arts →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Wilmington School of the Arts →

Compare Wilmington School of the Arts

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Wilmington School of the Arts?

Wilmington School of the Arts has 1 school, including 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 201 students.

How much does Wilmington School of the Arts spend per student?

Wilmington School of the Arts spends $11,983 per student. The district has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #160 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Wilmington School of the Arts?

Wilmington School of the Arts students are 64.6% White, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% African American, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wilmington School of the Arts?

Wilmington School of the Arts has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #160 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.