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Emsley A Laney High

Q: Is Emsley A Laney High a good school?

Emsley A Laney High ranks 351 st of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

351^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 45% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Emsley A Laney High is a public high school located in Wilmington, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,248 students. The school is part of the New Hanover County Schools district, which is ranked 78 out of 242 districts in the state.

Emsley A Laney High has seen a fluctuating statewide ranking over the past several years, ranging from 151 out of 514 high schools in 2018-2019 (4-star rating) to 351 out of 641 high schools in the most recent school year (2-star rating). The school's performance has been mixed, with some student subgroups, such as Asian students and Gifted and Talented students, performing better than others. The school's four-year graduation rate has remained relatively stable, ranging from 87.7% to 89.4%, slightly lower than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, John T Hoggard High and Wilmington Early College High have consistently outperformed Emsley A Laney High in terms of statewide ranking, graduation rates, and academic proficiency. However, Emsley A Laney High has performed better than some of the smaller, specialized schools in the area, such as J.C. Roe Center and Career Readiness Academy at Mosley PLC.

2,243

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,690

Per pupil spending ?

95.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2700 N College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405-8816

(910) 350-2089

District: New Hanover County Schools

Feeder schools for Emsley A Laney High:

Elementary:	Castle Hayne Elementary
	Murrayville Elementary
	Ogden Elementary
	Porters Neck Elementary
Middle:	Emma B Trask Middle
	Holly Shelter Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.4%

Hispanic:

18.5%

African American:

18.2%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Emsley A Laney High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 70th percentile in 2015 → 45th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 25 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of New Hanover County Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg53%

351^st of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 25 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to bottom 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 8High Schools in the New Hanover County Schools

78^th of 242New Hanover County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	42.9	351 of 641	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	315 of 640	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.1	328 of 626	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.1	277 of 621	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.0	250 of 594	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.1	151 of 514	70.6%	★★★★☆
2018	58.5	156 of 469	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.2	141 of 476	70.4%	★★★★☆
2016	54.2	141 of 507	72.2%	★★★★☆
2015	51.9	160 of 531	69.9%	★★★★☆
2014	50.9	151 of 451	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	48.3	158 of 505	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.1	183 of 502	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	53.8	255 of 506	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	57.2	215 of 499	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	51.4	243 of 490	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.8	216 of 477	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	55.4	186 of 453	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	59.1	156 of 431	63.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	20.9	377 of 440	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	313 of 437	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.0	298 of 434	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.8	285 of 430	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.1	189 of 364	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.4	240 of 369	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.5	286 of 359	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	10.5	98 of 106	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	47.6	62 of 98	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.3	42 of 89	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	18.6	67 of 77	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	34.4	196 of 330	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.9	108 of 334	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.0	124 of 364	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.3	166 of 349	52.4%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	199 of 273	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.6	173 of 262	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.8	100 of 226	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.2	20 of 156	87.2%	★★★★☆
2021	39.0	69 of 124	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.7	122 of 173	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	79.5	18 of 147	87.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	352 of 610	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.1	300 of 602	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.1	331 of 588	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.2	283 of 594	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.6	175 of 475	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.7	158 of 475	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.9	156 of 449	65.3%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	62.5	186 of 412	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.9	179 of 403	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.5	88 of 403	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	68.7	123 of 398	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.3	107 of 337	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.4	118 of 325	63.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	33.2	306 of 462	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.8	243 of 454	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.2	284 of 449	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.2	243 of 436	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.2	147 of 370	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.5	80 of 354	77.4%	★★★★☆
2018	59.2	85 of 340	75.0%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	39.1	24 of 39	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	83.1	3 of 47	93.6%	★★★★★
2023	33.2	30 of 45	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	13 of 34	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.9	3 of 9	66.7%	★★★★☆
2019	61.0	10 of 44	77.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.1	457 of 606	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.1	407 of 613	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	369 of 597	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.9	348 of 544	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.7	229 of 432	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.0	164 of 446	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.1	223 of 424	47.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	41.8	335 of 601	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.2	318 of 607	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	313 of 602	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.5	264 of 585	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.3	158 of 481	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.8	149 of 488	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.4	186 of 463	59.8%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	39.8	27 of 48	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.7	144 of 253	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.3	143 of 261	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.8	120 of 249	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.9	125 of 226	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.4	68 of 199	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.7	66 of 195	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	77 of 185	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	216 of 352	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.7	108 of 349	69.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	51.0	270 of 542	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.1	272 of 553	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.9	281 of 537	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.3	233 of 534	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.5	144 of 439	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.2	110 of 444	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	64.8	127 of 427	70.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2025)55th percentile+10 vs school

White (2025)50th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)44th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2023)44th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)42nd percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)41st percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2025)39th percentile-7 vs school

Homeless (2025)38th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)34th percentile-11 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)27th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)25th percentile-21 vs school

African American (2025)14th percentile-31 vs school

Asian (2025)8th percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III66%~ state avg

English II60%~ state avg

Biology39%-9 vs state

Math I32%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Emsley A Laney High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Emsley A Laney High	Public	9-12	2700 N College Rd	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2089	2,243	111	20.2	95.3%	1,243 (55.4%)	409 (18.2%)	415 (18.5%)	40 (1.8%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	132 (5.9%)	42.9	351^st of 641 public high schools	45.2%		47.4	315^th of 640 public high schools	50.8%	36	38.9	60.2	32.2	65.9								$8,690	$533	$8,157
Wilmington Early College High	Public	9-12	4500 Blue Clay Rd	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 362-7789	270	13	20.6	98.9%	146 (54.1%)	57 (21.1%)	48 (17.8%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.1%)	84.2	114^th of 641 public high schools	82.2%		88.3	95^th of 640 public high schools	85.2%	19	62.5	86.0	70.0	96.9								$8,673	$273	$8,400
SEA-Technical	Public	9-12	5301 Sidbury Road	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 530-6300	227	17	13.6	98.7%	144 (63.4%)	26 (11.5%)	38 (16.7%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.2%)	89.1	86^th of 641 public high schools	86.6%		87	104^th of 640 public high schools	83.8%	18	75.0	83.3	85.7	98.4								$13,361	$253	$13,108
Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington	Public, Charter	6-12	4100 Sunglow Drive	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 338-5258	362	35	10.2	98.9%	151 (41.7%)	96 (26.5%)	70 (19.3%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (10.8%)	34.7	415^th of 641 public high schools	35.3%		46.4	321^st of 640 public high schools	49.8%	94	32.4	63.9	32.0	50.0	56.8	56.3	53.2	68.2	60.9	61.3	67.7
Career Readiness Academy at Mosley PLC	Public	9-12	3702 Princess Place Drive	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 251-6161	150	15	10.2	98.0%	46 (30.7%)	53 (35.3%)	40 (26.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.0%)	22.9	507^th of 641 public high schools	20.9%		28.3	465^th of 640 public high schools	27.3%	42	26.9	45.8	30.8	30.0								$21,178	$2,660	$18,517
Isaac M Bear Early College High School	Public	9-12	630 MacMillan Avenue	Wilmington	28403	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-1387	260	11	24.7	25.8%	162 (62.3%)	10 (3.8%)	47 (18.1%)	23 (8.8%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (6.2%)	95.2	21^st of 641 public high schools	96.7%		91.3	63^rd of 640 public high schools	90.2%	42	91.0	98.5	94.1	100.0								$9,555	$284	$9,271
New Hanover High	Public	9-12	1307 Market St	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 251-6100	1,437	91	15.7	98.5%	523 (36.4%)	457 (31.8%)	381 (26.5%)	15 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (4.1%)	29.2	461^st of 641 public high schools	28.1%		32	432^nd of 640 public high schools	32.5%	29	34.9	44.1	14.1	70.7								$10,692	$741	$9,950
John T Hoggard High	Public	9-12	4305 Shipyard Blvd	Wilmington	28403	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2072	2,082	106	19.5	36.2%	1,358 (65.2%)	269 (12.9%)	315 (15.1%)	37 (1.8%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	98 (4.7%)	59.6	229^th of 641 public high schools	64.3%		66.3	198^th of 640 public high schools	69.1%	31	50.1	70.3	39.3	75.9								$8,673	$593	$8,080
J. C. Roe Center	Public	6-12	2875 Worth Drive	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 395-4472	14	12	1.2	78.6%	1 (7.1%)	5 (35.7%)	3 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (35.7%)								(n/a)		14.3					6.7			6.7	6.7	$34,575	$1,445	$33,130
North Brunswick High	Public	9-12	114 Scorpion Drive	Leland	28451	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 371-2261	1,620	89	18.1	99.8%	809 (49.9%)	314 (19.4%)	352 (21.7%)	3 (0.2%)	13 (0.8%)	4 (0.2%)	125 (7.7%)	43.8	346^th of 641 public high schools	46.0%		45.1	332^nd of 640 public high schools	48.1%	14	55.0	54.5	29.8	62.4								$10,133	$1,075	$9,059

Frequently Asked Questions about Emsley A Laney High

What is the racial makeup of Emsley A Laney High?

Students at Emsley A Laney High are 55% White, 19% Hispanic, 18% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Emsley A Laney High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,243 students attended Emsley A Laney High.

Is Emsley A Laney High a good school?

Emsley A Laney High ranks 351^st of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Emsley A Laney High in?

New Hanover County Schools

What schools feed into Emsley A Laney High?

Emsley A Laney High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Castle Hayne Elementary
Elementary : Murrayville Elementary
Elementary : Ogden Elementary
Elementary : Porters Neck Elementary
Middle : Emma B Trask Middle
Middle : Holly Shelter Middle

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.