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Topsail High

Q: Is Topsail High a good school?

Topsail High ranks 168 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

168^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 75% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Topsail High is a large public high school in Hampstead, North Carolina, serving roughly 1,945 students in grades 9–12 within Pender County Schools. The school is a consistent academic standout, ranking 168th out of 662 North Carolina high schools with a 4-star rating and outperforming both district and state averages on every End-of-Course exam. It is the top traditional high school in its district — Heide Trask High ranks 541st and trails by 30 to 40 percentage points in every subject — and it edges out Dixon High in nearby Onslow County across all core subjects.

What makes Topsail particularly noteworthy is that it achieves these results at scale. While nearby early-college programs post elite scores, they are small and selective; Topsail serves roughly 2,000 students in a comprehensive setting and still earns an 86% proficiency rate in Math III. Even its weakest subject, Math I, exceeds the state average by 15 percentage points. The school's poverty rate is relatively low — about 23.5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — which is dramatically lower than the 95%+ figures at many Wilmington-area high schools and comparable to early-college programs like Isaac M Bear Early College High School. Notably, Topsail delivers these outcomes with lower per-pupil spending ($8,065) than nearby lower-performing schools.

Still, there are concerns worth watching. Chronic absenteeism affects 29.5% of students — nearly one in three — which is higher than both district and state averages despite the school's strong academics. Math I remains a barrier for more than 40% of students each year. While many subgroups perform well, the school saw a sharp decline in outcomes for African American students in the most recent year. If Topsail can improve attendance and tighten these equity gaps, it has the academic foundation to return to the 85th-percentile ranking it held a decade ago.

1,945

Students ?

29.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

23.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

245 St. Johns Church Road
Hampstead, NC 28443

(910) 270-2755

District: Pender County Schools

Feeder schools for Topsail High:

Elementary:	North Topsail Elementary
	South Topsail Elementary
	Topsail Annandale Elementary School
Middle:	Topsail Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.4%

Hispanic:

7.6%

Two or more races:

5.7%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Topsail High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2016 → 75th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (76% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (75th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

!Large classes — about 29 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg63%

North Carolina avg60%

168^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 25%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 14% (2016) to top 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

120^th of 246Pender 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
2026	73.5	168 of 662	74.6%	★★★★☆
2025	79.4	136 of 641	78.8%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	145 of 640	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	128 of 626	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	74.2	151 of 621	75.7%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	138 of 594	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	65.8	114 of 514	77.8%	★★★★☆
2018	77.7	64 of 469	86.4%	★★★★☆
2017	72.2	72 of 476	84.9%	★★★★☆
2016	70.8	70 of 507	86.2%	★★★★☆
2015	67.6	88 of 531	83.4%	★★★★☆
2014	75.4	49 of 451	89.1%	★★★★☆
2013	68.8	46 of 505	90.9%	★★★★★
2012	62.8	123 of 502	75.5%	★★★★☆
2011	74.2	61 of 506	87.9%	★★★★☆
2010	77.6	29 of 499	94.2%	★★★★★
2009	72.6	50 of 490	89.8%	★★★★☆
2008	75.0	43 of 477	91.0%	★★★★★
2007	78.7	27 of 453	94.0%	★★★★★
2006	83.1	15 of 431	96.5%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.2	266 of 450	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	75.9	81 of 440	81.6%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	97 of 437	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	88.2	54 of 434	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	67.0	99 of 430	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	49.5	117 of 364	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.3	106 of 359	70.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	72.2	45 of 330	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.4	74 of 334	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	46.9	158 of 364	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.2	61 of 349	82.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	155 of 629	75.4%	★★★★☆
2025	81.3	120 of 610	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	147 of 602	75.6%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	104 of 588	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	74.2	147 of 594	75.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.9	72 of 475	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	61.2	130 of 475	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	72.4	94 of 449	79.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	116 of 407	71.5%	★★★★☆
2025	62.9	176 of 412	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	175 of 403	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.5	89 of 403	77.9%	★★★★☆
2022	70.9	105 of 398	73.6%	★★★★☆
2021	62.5	137 of 337	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.9	148 of 325	54.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.2	114 of 474	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	86.2	73 of 462	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	108 of 454	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	73.1	93 of 449	79.3%	★★★★☆
2022	66.0	111 of 436	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	68.8	43 of 370	88.4%	★★★★☆
2019	54.1	97 of 354	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	58.6	92 of 340	72.9%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	78.9	5 of 44	88.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.3	204 of 620	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.4	138 of 606	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	61.0	184 of 613	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	71.7	132 of 597	77.9%	★★★★☆
2022	56.4	183 of 544	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.9	85 of 432	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	55.5	102 of 446	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	60.9	89 of 424	79.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	170 of 624	72.8%	★★★★☆
2025	76.9	149 of 601	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	149 of 607	75.5%	★★★★☆
2023	78.1	137 of 602	77.2%	★★★★☆
2022	73.8	149 of 585	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	65 of 481	86.5%	★★★★☆
2019	67.1	99 of 488	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	80.8	60 of 463	87.0%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	20 of 70	71.4%	★★★★☆
2025	79.2	11 of 53	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	7 of 49	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	81.4	7 of 48	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	5 of 47	89.4%	★★★★★
2021	81.4	4 of 41	90.2%	★★★★★
2019	80.3	5 of 33	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	84.1	2 of 32	93.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	50 of 265	81.1%	★★★★☆
2025	83.3	32 of 253	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	25 of 261	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	82.2	30 of 249	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	76.1	39 of 226	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	53.8	85 of 199	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.8	31 of 195	84.1%	★★★★☆
2018	70.7	47 of 185	74.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.0	110 of 372	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	65.4	59 of 352	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	87.0	15 of 349	95.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.8	212 of 551	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.8	170 of 542	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.6	186 of 553	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.8	145 of 537	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	66.0	184 of 534	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.8	115 of 439	73.8%	★★★★☆
2019	51.7	182 of 444	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.6	110 of 427	74.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Homeless (2019)89th percentile+11 vs school

Disabled (2022)86th percentile+11 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)81st percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)76th percentile~ school

Female (2026)75th percentile~ school

Male (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)71st percentile-3 vs school

Military Connected (2026)71st percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)70th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)67th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)62nd percentile-13 vs school

African American (2026)41st percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III86%+17 vs state

Biology78%+20 vs state

English II76%+11 vs state

Math I57%+15 vs state

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Schools Near Topsail High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Topsail High	Public	9-12	245 St. Johns Church Road	Hampstead	28443	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 270-2755	1,945	67	29.0	23.5%	1,603 (82.4%)	60 (3.1%)	148 (7.6%)	15 (0.8%)	6 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	110 (5.7%)	73.5	168^th of 662 public high schools	74.6%		79.4	136^th of 641 public high schools	78.8%	32	78.3	75.6	57.5	86.0								$8,065	$589	$7,476
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	—	144 (63.4%)	26 (11.5%)	38 (16.7%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.2%)	91.9	57^th of 662 public high schools	91.4%		89.1	86^th of 641 public high schools	86.6%	29	93.2	95.5	88.9	96.4								$13,361	$253	$13,108
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	—	146 (54.1%)	57 (21.1%)	48 (17.8%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.1%)	83.4	119^th of 662 public high schools	82.0%		84.2	114^th of 641 public high schools	82.2%	5	69.3	92.1	79.2	100.0								$8,673	$273	$8,400
Heide Trask High	Public	9-12	14328 NC Hwy 210	Rocky Point	28457	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 602-6810	732	33	21.8	—	300 (41.0%)	111 (15.2%)	281 (38.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.9%)	21.7	541^st of 662 public high schools	18.3%		18.8	530^th of 641 public high schools	17.3%	11	39.1	49.2	26.8	52.4								$10,484	$771	$9,712
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%)	43.8	378^th of 662 public high schools	42.9%		42.9	351^st of 641 public high schools	45.2%	27	56.3	70.7	39.0	56.5								$8,690	$533	$8,157
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	—	151 (41.7%)	96 (26.5%)	70 (19.3%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (10.8%)	30.8	473^rd of 662 public high schools	28.5%		34.7	415^th of 641 public high schools	35.3%	58	48.1	56.3	46.2	31.4	42.0	56.5	65.6	52.0	63.0	67.2	75.4
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	—	46 (30.7%)	53 (35.3%)	40 (26.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.0%)	33.9	448^th of 662 public high schools	32.3%		22.9	507^th of 641 public high schools	20.9%	59	54.5	60.9	40.7	40.9								$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%)	92	53^rd of 662 public high schools	92.0%		95.2	21^st of 641 public high schools	96.7%	32	360.2	561.8	100.0	98.6								$9,555	$284	$9,271
Pender Early College High	Public	9-12	100 East Industrial Drive	Burgaw	28425	Pender County	Pender County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 362-7925	215	4	50.8	—	140 (65.1%)	10 (4.7%)	50 (23.3%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.6%)	93.8	18^th of 662 public high schools	97.3%		94.3	30^th of 641 public high schools	95.3%	12	97.5	98.3	94.7	100.0								$7,865	$425	$7,440
Dixon High	Public	9-12	160 Dixon School Rd	Holly Ridge	28445	Onslow County	Onslow County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 347-2958	1,085	57	18.8	30.9%	785 (72.4%)	41 (3.8%)	179 (16.5%)	9 (0.8%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	64 (5.9%)	65.7	214^th of 662 public high schools	67.7%		67.1	187^th of 641 public high schools	70.8%	27	77.8	74.5	46.2	79.8								$9,119	$727	$8,392

Frequently Asked Questions about Topsail High

What district is Topsail High in?

Pender County Schools

How many students attend Topsail High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,945 students attended Topsail High.

Is Topsail High a good school?

Topsail High ranks 168^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Topsail High?

Students at Topsail High are 82% White, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American.

What schools feed into Topsail High?

Topsail High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : North Topsail Elementary
Elementary : South Topsail Elementary
Elementary : Topsail Annandale Elementary School
Middle : Topsail Middle

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.