Smarter school search, clearer school choices.
Trafalgar Middle School
About
Trafalgar Middle School is located at 1201 Josephine St, Nelson, BC V1L 1X8. The school serves over 550 learners in grades 6–9 and describes itself as an energetic and diverse community. Trafalgar emphasizes students embracing respect, ownership, acceptance, and resilience.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Kootenay Lake)
Education language: Trafalgar Middle School offers a Late French Immersion pathway in Nelson, with an intensive program in grades 6–7 that prepares students to follow the French Immersion curriculum in grades 8–9. The district notes students are welcome in the late entry program with any level of prior French experience.
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: 6-9
Phone: 250 352-5591
Email: tim.mushumanski@sd8.bc.ca
Principal: Tim Mushumanski
Education Languages
Trafalgar Middle School offers a Late French Immersion pathway in Nelson, with an intensive program in grades 6–7 that prepares students to follow the French Immersion curriculum in grades 8–9. The district notes students are welcome in the late entry program with any level of prior French experience.
Programs and Services
French Immersion (program of choice) Trafalgar Middle School is a Nelson site for SD8’s Late French Immersion, with grade 6 entry and an intensive grade 6–7 program that leads into French Immersion in grades 8–9. The school has also supported Grade 9 French Immersion student exchanges to Quebec. Lifelong Explorations (LLE) exploratory courses Trafalgar offers “student-centered, hands-on, and minds-on” Lifelong Explorations courses that are multi-age and updated each term. Regular offerings include athletics-focused options (e.g., Golf, Hockey Academy, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer), health and fitness (e.g., Outdoor Recreation, Swim and Gym), leadership/citizenship (e.g., Green Leadership, Newspaper), arts/design (e.g., Photography, Stitch ‘n Craft, Creativity with Clay, Filmmaking, Jewelry Making, Drama/Theatre), and science/technology (e.g., Makerspace & Robotics, Hands on Science, Woodwork). Fine Arts & Applied Design/Skills/Technology (Core Options) Students in all grades can rotate through courses including Woodworking, Visual Art, Textiles, Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking, Drama, and Food Studies. Student well-being / mental health prevention The school is implementing the PreVenture Program, an evidence-based preventive mental health program for youth ages 12–18 that includes two workshops focused on personality style, coping strategies, and goal-setting.
School Culture and Expectations
Trafalgar Middle School highlights a school culture where students strive to embrace respect, ownership, acceptance, and resilience as part of an energetic and diverse community. The school and district also acknowledge, respect, and honour the First Nations in whose traditional territories SD8 operates. For students using district transportation, SD8’s bus code of conduct emphasizes safety and respectful behaviour (e.g., orderly loading, remaining seated, no profanity, and following driver and school administrator directions).
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
SD8’s bus code of conduct outlines expectations for safe transportation, including arriving at the bus stop at least five minutes early, boarding in an orderly manner, staying seated while the bus is moving, and crossing in front of the bus only on the driver’s signal (crossing behind the bus is not permitted). It also includes rules for permitted carry-on items (e.g., small band instruments in an appropriate case) and notes that principals may discipline bus-related misbehaviour. (No Trafalgar-specific drop-off/parking details were provided in the sources.)
Enrollment
For SD8’s Late French Immersion (including Trafalgar Middle School’s Nelson program), the district directs families interested in French Immersion to contact the schools directly. Eligibility information is provided for the Nelson program (completed grade 5 and resident in SD8; for late entry in grades 7–12, families must contact the applicable school principal).
Location
Trafalgar Middle School Reviews
Reviews load after the page becomes interactive.
Academic Learning of Trafalgar Middle School
43.51
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 44 - well above the district public school average of 36, ahead by 8 points.
Literacy: 44
Numeracy: 43
Literacy and numeracy are closely matched.
52.96
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 53 - above the province public school average of 49, ahead by 4 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
68.58
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 69 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 18 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
75.00
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 75 - well above the province public school average of 52, ahead by 23 points.
Students report stronger preparation for future learning, transitions, and career pathways than comparable schools, which points to a solid readiness profile.
Academic Scores by School Year
Clustered Academic Score Trends
School year trend view: All Grades (combined Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where available). In 2024-2025, literacy is 44, numeracy is 43, and overall is 44.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score was broadly stable.
In the latest year, literacy is the strongest of the three measures at 44, while numeracy is lowest at 43.
Across the available years, literacy declined by 6 points since 2019-2020, while numeracy improved by 4 points since 2019-2020.
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024-2025, academic performance is 44, student commitment to learning is 53, critical thinking is 69, and college and career readiness is 75.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 75, while Academic Performance is lowest at 44.
College and Career Readiness shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 8 points since 2021-2022.
Additional Information
Data is regularly updated to reflect the latest available academic scores and assessments from official school records.
Character and Wellbeing
56.04
Artistic and Creative Traits
Artistic and Creative Traits
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 56 - in line with the province public school average of 57, within 1 point.
Students report creativity, imagination, and artistic thinking at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
70.30
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 70 - in line with the province public school average of 72, within 1 point.
Students report participation in school and community life at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
72.73
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 73 - above the province public school average of 69, ahead by 4 points.
Students report stronger physical and emotional well-being than comparable schools, which points to a healthier overall student experience.
75.33
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 75 - in line with the province public school average of 75, within 0 points.
Students report effort, persistence, and responsibility at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Grade 7 trend view. In 2024/2025, Civic Engagement is 70, Health is 73, and Work Ethic is 75.
The strongest current area is Work Ethic at 75, while Civic Engagement is lowest at 70.
Work Ethic shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 9 points since 2019/2020.
Resources
89.36
Community Support
Community Support
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 89 - well above the district public school average of 73, ahead by 16 points.
Parents and the wider community appear to provide stronger support for student learning than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
66.15
Facilities and Personnel
Facilities and Personnel
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 66 - well below the district public school average of 73, trailing by 7 points.
Staffing, spaces, and school infrastructure are rated less positively than in comparable schools, making this a resource area to strengthen.
49.25
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 49 - well below the district public school average of 65, trailing by 16 points.
Instructional resources are rated less positively than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen access or quality.
Resources Score Change Over Years
Resources Score Change Over Years
Grade 7 trend view. In 2024/2025, Community Support is 89, Facilities and Personnel is 66, and Learning Resources is 49.
The strongest current area is Community Support at 89, while Learning Resources is lowest at 49.
Community Support shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 45 points since 2019/2020.
School Culture
57.78
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 58 - well below the province public school average of 66, trailing by 8 points.
Students report a weaker academic orientation than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen the school's learning focus and academic expectations.
82.37
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 82 - above the province public school average of 78, ahead by 4 points.
Students report stronger relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
81.07
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 81 - well above the province public school average of 73, ahead by 8 points.
Students report a stronger sense of physical and emotional safety than in comparable schools, suggesting the school environment feels more secure and supportive.
School Culture Score Change Over Years
School Culture Score Change Over Years
Grade 7 trend view. In 2024/2025, Relationships is 82 and Safety is 81.
The strongest current area is Relationships at 82, while Safety is lowest at 81.
Safety shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 18 points since 2019/2020.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
64.31
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 64 - well below the province public school average of 72, trailing by 7 points.
Teachers are rated less positively for instructional quality, knowledge, and professional practice than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Grade 7 trend view. In 2024/2025, Knowledge and Skills of Teachers is 64.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 6 points since 2019/2020.