- Enrollment
- 1,945
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hampstead, NC
North Topsail Elementary
Federal NCES profile for North Topsail Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370357002346
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Topsail Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Hampstead · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 23.8%
- free-lunch eligible
North Topsail Elementary has class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Topsail Elementary ranks #2 of 4 schools in Hampstead, NC.
School address
District: Pender County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370357002346 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-43 students YoY
North Topsail Elementary shrank from 608 students in 2022-23 to 565 in 2023-24 (-7.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 35.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-43 students YoY 370357002346 · Hampstead, NC Other · MID · TRAD
529 enr · 13.6:1 · 23.8% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Topsail High (1,945 students)
North Topsail Elementary shrank from 608 students in 2022-23 to 565 in 2023-24 (-7.1%). Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 35.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
North Topsail Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Topsail High
Topsail High
1,945 students
- Surf City Elem
Surf City Elementary
857 students
- Topsail Middle
Topsail Middle
837 students
- Surf City Midd 752
Surf City Middle
752 students
- Heide Trask Hi 732
Heide Trask High
732 students
- This school 529
North Topsail Elementary
529 students
What this shows North Topsail Elementary reports 529 students on the CCD universe file.
How North Topsail Elementary compares
North Topsail Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.8% | ▼ 64% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 529 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
529
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 30% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,425
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 529 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.1%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%
Two or More 5.3%
African American 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 85.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.8, North Topsail Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pender County Schools reports $11,425 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How North Topsail Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Topsail Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heide Trask High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Topsail Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 837
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 732
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Hampstead
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~529 students)
Frequently asked questions about North Topsail Elementary
How many students attend North Topsail Elementary?
North Topsail Elementary has 529 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hampstead, NC. CCD year-over-year: 608 (2022-23) → 565 (2023-24), down 43.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Topsail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at North Topsail Elementary is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Topsail Elementary?
23.8% of students at North Topsail Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Topsail Elementary?
The largest demographic group at North Topsail Elementary is White at 85.1% of enrollment, in Hampstead, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Topsail Elementary?
North Topsail Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Topsail Elementary rank among schools in Hampstead?
By Resource Investment Index, North Topsail Elementary ranks #2 of 4 schools in Hampstead, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hampstead on the city page.
What other schools are in Pender County Schools?
Besides North Topsail Elementary, Pender County Schools also operates Topsail High (1,945 students), Surf City Elementary (857 students), and Topsail Middle (837 students). See the Pender County Schools district page for the complete list.