The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Math. The lowest is 53% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Emma B Trask Middle
Emma B Trask Middle serves grades six through eight in Wilmington, a mid-sized coastal city anchored by healthcare, technology, and port-based employment, with a compact and walkable historic downtown along the Cape Fear River surrounded by sprawling suburban neighborhoods and rapid housing growth. The school sits in a context of significant change: New Hanover County Schools has placed a large school bond on the ballot for November 2026 that specifically includes replacement of Trask Middle School, signaling a district commitment to modernize this building.
The student body is economically disadvantaged. Nearly all students qualify for federal free or reduced-price lunch. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is diverse, with the largest share identifying as white, followed by Hispanic, Black, and students of two or more races; a smaller share are Asian. The school does not report rates for students with disabilities or English learners, so those numbers are not available to potential families. Enrollment hovers at a mid-size level typical for a middle school serving the area.
Math proficiency is the school's strongest performance area. About two-thirds of students tested reached proficiency or above on North Carolina's End-of-Grade math assessment. Science proficiency sits slightly below that. English language arts is a softer area, with about half of tested students reaching proficiency. These results reflect the real academic spread across the school; a parent may want to ask the school directly about its efforts in literacy and whether particular supports or intervention structures are in place for students below proficiency.
The state's assessment test was the same in math and ELA from prior years, though science testing itself changed this year, so year-to-year comparison for science is not straightforward. The school does not report whether all eligible students participated in testing, so the true scope of proficiency is not fully visible.
Trask is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Program details and course offerings were not available in the data reviewed. The school's website did not surface in the research, so a family would benefit from visiting directly or calling the district to understand what courses, electives, and support services the school houses.
The housing market around Trask's zip code reflects Wilmington's rapid growth and rising cost. Median home values in the area have moved upward, with slight recent moderation. Rent is rising as well. The affordability math is tight: a single mortgage in the market requires a household income above the national median, and renters face cost burdens. For many families in the Trask catchment, the nearly universal free or reduced-price lunch rate reflects that economic reality. Growth is continuing to reshape the area, with new housing projects like Riverlights and infill development around downtown, and the district's bond proposal includes a new elementary school in Riverlights, so the school-age population is expected to keep growing.
The district is also integrating local African American history into curriculum, including the history of the Freeman family and the Seabreeze Resort, a historically Black coastal resort, with live oral history recordings. A new student cell phone policy prohibits photography or recording of others in class without consent, aimed at reducing cyberbullying.
Parents considering Trask should understand that the school serves a heavily economically disadvantaged population, that it is slated for replacement under the pending bond, that reading proficiency is a measurable area of concern, and that more detail on instructional programs and supports would be important to gather directly from the school.
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