GrowthTop story
Pender County's largest school yet is set to open in Hampstead in August 2027
J.H. Lea K-8 School covers 285,000 square feet
Floor area of the J.H. Lea K-8 School, beside places you know
5 football fields would fit inside the J.H. Lea K-8 School
Source: WWAYTV3
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| Floor area | |
|---|---|
| The J.H. Lea K-8 School | 285,000 sq. ft. |
| A football field | 57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included) |
| A Walmart Supercenter | about 180,000 sq. ft. |
If you've wondered where the coast's growth shows up, look at Hampstead. Pender County Schools is building the J.H. Lea K-8 School off Highway 210, a 285,000-square-foot campus that WWAY says will be the largest public school campus in the Cape Fear region.
The district serves more than 10,700 students. Superintendent Brad Breedlove expects three, four, possibly 5,000 more over the next 10 years. On Election Day, Brunswick and New Hanover counties both passed their own school bonds, and Brunswick ranks first in North Carolina growth, per 2025 Census data.
- Budget: about $111 million of a $178 million voter-approved bond
- Opens: August 2027 for the 2027-2028 school year
- Layout: two elementary wings and two middle school wings, each with a gym
J.H. Lea is designed for about 2,300 students, most in middle school
Source: WWAYTV3
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| Amount | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school | 1,500 | 65.2% |
| Elementary | 800 | 34.8% |
Topsail Middle School's renovation is the district's other overcrowding fix. It was first estimated at less than $23 million, and the latest projection is more than $50 million. Board Chair Don Hall said the board is working with the architect to cut costs.
