- Enrollment
- 1,945
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hampstead, NC
South Topsail Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Topsail Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370357002046
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Topsail Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 4
- schools in Hampstead · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 31.8%
- free-lunch eligible
South Topsail Elementary has class sizes larger than 78% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Topsail Elementary ranks #4 of 4 schools in Hampstead, NC.
School address
District: Pender County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370357002046 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+53 students YoY
South Topsail Elementary grew from 557 students in 2022-23 to 610 in 2023-24 (+9.5%).
Teacher FTE added 35.5 → 38.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+53 students YoY 370357002046 · Hampstead, NC Other · MID · TRAD
618 enr · 17.7:1 · 31.8% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Topsail High (1,945 students)
South Topsail Elementary grew from 557 students in 2022-23 to 610 in 2023-24 (+9.5%). Teacher FTE added 35.5 → 38.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
South 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 618
South Topsail Elementary
618 students
What this shows South Topsail Elementary reports 618 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Topsail Elementary compares
South Topsail Elementary is a growing 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 | 17.7:1 | ▲ 12% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.8% | ▼ 52% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 618 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
618
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 78% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.4%
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 618 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 7.3%
African American 3.1%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 76.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.0, South 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 South Topsail Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Topsail Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heide Trask High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South 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 (~618 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Topsail Elementary
How many students attend South Topsail Elementary?
South Topsail Elementary has 618 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hampstead, NC. CCD year-over-year: 557 (2022-23) → 610 (2023-24), up 53.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Topsail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Topsail Elementary is 17.7:1, which is 12% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Topsail Elementary?
31.8% of students at South Topsail Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Topsail Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Topsail Elementary is White at 76.9% of enrollment, in Hampstead, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Topsail Elementary?
South Topsail Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 South Topsail Elementary rank among schools in Hampstead?
By Resource Investment Index, South Topsail Elementary ranks #4 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 South 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.