Enrollment
611
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Wilmington, NC
Emma B Trask Middle
Federal NCES profile for Emma B Trask Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370333001372
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 69
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emma B Trask Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 6
- middle schools in Wilmington · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 97.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Emma B Trask Middle has class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emma B Trask Middle ranks #1 of 6 middle schools in Wilmington, NC.
School address
District: New Hanover County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370333001372 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
97.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Emma B Trask Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Emma B Trask Middle
Emma B Trask Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Wilmington, North Carolina, enrolling 611 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 97.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 611 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 540 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #20, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%) (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 153 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 164 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 611 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Wilmington's middle schools, it stands alongside Charles P Murray Middle (907 students): Emma B Trask Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 17.1:1).
New Hanover County Schools also operates Emsley a Laney High (2,243 students) and John T Hoggard High (2,082 students) alongside Emma B Trask Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Emma B Trask Middle compares
Emma B Trask Middle on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.2% | ▲ 47% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 611 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
611
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
97.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 22% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
36.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,724
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 153 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
102
in-school suspensions + 62 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 49.3%
Hispanic or Latino 22.6%
African American 16.4%
Two or More 8.2%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 49.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.1, Emma B Trask Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for New Hanover County Schools, which includes Emma B Trask Middle.
$13,724
Per student
+14%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.4%
State 51.7%
Federal 18.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Emma B Trask Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emsley a Laney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John T Hoggard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eugene Ashley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Hanover High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Charles P Murray Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emma B Trask Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,243
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- 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 middle schools in Wilmington
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Charles P Murray Middle
Standard public school
907 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Roland-Grise Middle
Standard public school
878 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
M C S Noble Middle
Standard public school
690 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Williston Middle
Standard public school
666 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Myrtle Grove Middle
Standard public school
600 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~611 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Emma B Trask Middle's federal record.
- Compare Emma B Trask Middle against another school. Compare schools
- New Hanover County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Emma B Trask Middle
How many students attend Emma B Trask Middle?
Emma B Trask Middle has 611 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Wilmington, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emma B Trask Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Emma B Trask Middle is 13:1, which is 18% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Emma B Trask Middle?
97.2% of students at Emma B Trask Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emma B Trask Middle?
The largest demographic group at Emma B Trask Middle is White at 49.3% of enrollment, in Wilmington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emma B Trask Middle?
Emma B Trask Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Emma B Trask Middle rank among middle schools in Wilmington?
By Resource Investment Index, Emma B Trask Middle ranks #1 of 6 middle 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 middle schools in Wilmington on the city page.
Is Emma B Trask Middle a good school?
Emma B Trask Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in New Hanover County Schools?
Besides Emma B Trask Middle, 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.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.