Voters approved the $320.5 million school bond with 68% yes. It pays for a new Trask Middle, two new elementary schools and a first phase at New Hanover High.

New Hanover County voters approved a $320.5 million bond for public schools on Tuesday. It is the largest school bond in county history, according to New Hanover County Schools.

The referendum passed with 65,712 votes for and 31,140 against, or 67.85% yes. All 41 precincts have reported, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections results site. The results are unofficial until the county canvass on Friday, Nov. 13.

The money will not arrive for months. The district expects the first bond proceeds in spring 2027.

What the bond pays for

The district’s 2026 bond page lists five building projects and three districtwide programs. The building projects are:

Project What the district plans Cost
Trask Middle School A new 1,000-student middle school on the Sidbury Road site shared with SEA-Tech $94,751,362
New Hanover High School, phase 1 A secured campus perimeter and Catwalk, a new dining hall, new classrooms, a secure courtyard and a new bus drop zone $59,786,276
Pine Valley Elementary A new 650-student school on the existing campus, replacing the current building $56,332,402
Riverlights Elementary A new 650-student school in the Riverlights development, in place of renovating or rebuilding M.C. Williams Elementary $53,855,851
Porters Neck Elementary An eight-classroom addition $7,625,000

The districtwide money is:

  • $20 million for building systems, mainly replacing aging heating and air conditioning
  • $10 million for technology, finishing devices for elementary teachers and students and replacing devices past their warranty
  • $10 million for safety, including secure entry vestibules at 20 schools, two a year for 10 years, plus security bollards and drop-down shades for offices and classrooms
  • $8,170,527 for project management and contingency costs
Bar chart of the planned cost of each project in the New Hanover County Schools bond, in millions of dollars: new Trask Middle $94.8 million, New Hanover High phase 1 $59.8 million, Pine Valley Elementary replacement $56.3 million, Riverlights Elementary $53.9 million, HVAC and building systems $20 million, technology $10 million, safety and security $10 million, project management and contingency $8.2 million, Porters Neck Elementary addition $7.6 million.
Planned costs from the New Hanover County Schools bond page. Chart by Wilmington Daily
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What changes at Trask and Laney

The new Trask Middle is the biggest single project. Students at the current Trask building on North College Road would move to the new school on Sidbury Road. The old Trask building would then become part of the Laney High School campus next door.

The district said the move would ease traffic and add high school space.

Why Pine Valley and M.C. Williams

The district said both new elementary schools are needed to fix safety problems in the existing buildings. At M.C. Williams, it cited the pod layout and outdoor walkways between buildings. At Pine Valley, it cited the outdoor walkways.

The new Pine Valley would also add art and music rooms, a multipurpose room, small-group rooms, more office space and a larger cafeteria. Both new schools would be able to house pre-K classes.

What happens next

The district said it has already assessed its buildings and chosen the projects. The next step is deciding the order and timing. The Board of Education will guide that work with district leaders.

Before the first money arrives, the district plans to hire project managers and other staff to run budgets, timelines, purchasing and construction.

“Identifying the projects was just the first step,” said Rob Morgan, the district’s assistant superintendent of operations. “Our focus now is on developing a strategic approach to prioritizing and scheduling the work based on facility conditions, operational needs, and the long-term needs of our district.”

“This was a historic vote, and now it is our responsibility to turn that support into meaningful results,” Superintendent Christopher Barnes said.

What it means for you

  • Your tax bill: before the vote, the district estimated the cost at about $5 a year for every $100,000 of assessed property value, or about $20 a year on a $400,000 home. It said the figure was kept low by an agreement between New Hanover County and The Endowment, which will put money toward the county’s bond debt. Our property taxes page explains how New Hanover County bills are set.
  • No dates yet: the first money is expected in spring 2027, and the order of the projects has not been set, so there are no construction dates for any school.
  • Follow the schedule: the district said it will post updates on its 2026 bond page. Our schools page lists every public school in Wilmington.
  • The rest of Tuesday’s results are in our New Hanover County election results story.