Public schools in Hampstead, NC
7 open public schools with an address in Hampstead, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,118
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Hampstead public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in Hampstead, NC: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,118 students, an average of 874 per school. The largest campus is Topsail High (1,945 students), and the largest elementary school is Surf City Elementary (857).
Every listed school belongs to Pender County Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 47% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Hampstead
Elementary schools in Hampstead
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Topsail Elementary Pender County Schools | PK–05 | 529 | 15.9:1 | |
| South Topsail Elementary Pender County Schools | PK–05 | 618 | 16.1:1 | |
| Surf City Elementary Pender County Schools | PK–05 | 857 | 16.8:1 | |
| Topsail Annandale Elementary School Pender County Schools | PK–04 | 580 | 17:1 |
Middle schools in Hampstead
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City Middle Pender County Schools | 06–08 | 752 | 18.5:1 | |
| Topsail Middle Pender County Schools | 05–08 | 837 | 18.7:1 |
High schools in Hampstead
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail High Pender County Schools | 09–12 | 1,945 | 29.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White82.3%
- Hispanic8.2%
- Black2.6%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial5.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Hampstead schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,118 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Hampstead
How many public schools are in Hampstead, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in Hampstead: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 6,118 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Hampstead?
All listed public schools with an address in Hampstead belong to Pender County Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Hampstead?
Topsail High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Hampstead, with 1,945 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Hampstead?
No school with an address in Hampstead is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Hampstead schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Hampstead public schools is 17:1, higher than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Hampstead guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities