Pender County Schools: Topsail High School welcomed most students in 2023-24 school year

Topsail High School had the highest enrollment among Pender County schools, welcoming 1,858 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the 17 schools in Pender County, Topsail Middle School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 854 students, while Surf City Elementary School welcomed 819 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Topsail High School is part of Pender County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Pender County and has a main office in Burgaw.

In the previous school year, Topsail High School also had the highest number of students among Pender County schools.

North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.

If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.