- Enrollment
- 2,082
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Wilmington, NC
Emsley a Laney High
Federal NCES profile for Emsley a Laney High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370333001373
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emsley a Laney High earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #4 of 5
- high schools in Wilmington · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 39.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Emsley a Laney High has class sizes larger than 86% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emsley a Laney High ranks #4 of 5 high schools in Wilmington, NC.
School address
District: New Hanover County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370333001373 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
Emsley a Laney High held near 2,248 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+28 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 118.5 → 112.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+28 students YoY 370333001373 · Wilmington, NC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,243 enr · 19:1 · 39.1% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: John T Hoggard High (2,082 students)
Emsley a Laney High held near 2,248 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+28 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 118.5 → 112.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Emsley a Laney High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Roland-Grise M 878
Roland-Grise Middle
878 students
What this shows Emsley a Laney High reports 2,243 students on the CCD universe file.
How Emsley a Laney High compares
Emsley a Laney High held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 19:1 | ▲ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.1% | ▼ 41% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,243 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,243
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 86% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.0%
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
$13,808
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 320 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
224
in-school suspensions + 159 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.4%
Hispanic or Latino 18.5%
African American 18.2%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 55.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, Emsley a Laney High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
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 Emsley a Laney High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John T Hoggard High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eugene Ashley High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| New Hanover High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Charles P Murray Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roland-Grise Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emsley a Laney High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Wilmington
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
Standard public school
260 students 26:1 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 (~2,243 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19:1)
Frequently asked questions about Emsley a Laney High
How many students attend Emsley a Laney High?
Emsley a Laney High has 2,243 students enrolled. It is a high school in Wilmington, NC. CCD year-over-year: 2,220 (2022-23) → 2,248 (2023-24), nearly flat (+28).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emsley a Laney High?
The student-teacher ratio at Emsley a Laney High is 19:1, which is 20% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Emsley a Laney High?
39.1% of students at Emsley a Laney High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emsley a Laney High?
The largest demographic group at Emsley a Laney High is White at 55.4% of enrollment, in Wilmington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emsley a Laney High?
Emsley a Laney High has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Emsley a Laney High rank among high schools in Wilmington?
By Resource Investment Index, Emsley a Laney High ranks #4 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 Emsley a Laney High, New Hanover County Schools also operates John T Hoggard High (2,082 students), Eugene Ashley High (1,893 students), and New Hanover High (1,437 students). See the New Hanover County Schools district page for the complete list.