Topsail High School

wilmington area schools

ashley hs

career readiness hs

hoggard hs

Isaac Bear hs

laney hs

New Hanover HS

sea-technical hs

Wilmington early

     Message from the Principal
As the principal of Topsail High School I dedicate myself to providing a safe, orderly, and consistent environment enabling all students to learn.  I am excited about my return to Topsail High School and look forward to all of our students accomplishing great things this year and beyond. I have worked at several different high schools in Carteret, New Hanover, and Pender Counties.  My experience as a high school administrator enables me to create systems and procedures for all students to be college and career ready. I believe in setting high expectations for all students and creating an environment for those expectations to be met.  All policies and procedures are created with the student's best interest in mind. I hope to remain a Topsail Pirate for many years to come. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Parents, community, and school officials must work together in an effort to maximize student potential.

​Sincerely,
Christopher P. Madden
christopher_madden@pender.k12.nc.us

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University of NC - Wilmington

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Topsail High School was held on December 12, 2006 at 2:00 PM and on December 30, 2008 construction was completed on the new school, located within walking distance to the former Topsail High School and Topsail Middle School. The new school opened for students on January 5, 2009, with a capacity of 1500 students. The new 224,727-square-foot (20,877.8 m2), two-story high school facility includes two gymnasiums, a theater/auditorium wing, and a separate shop building for wood, metal and automotive classes. The former Topsail High School building has been renovated and is now occupied by Topsail Middle School starting in August 2009.

The school has a population of students consisting of 90% White, 8% African American, 1% Latino, and 1% other.

Topsail High School has been used in production for The CW's TV show One Tree Hill. Many students participated as extras in early 2007 when the Topsail High School gymnasium was used for filming basketball scenes for One Tree Hill.

Cape Fear Community College

The school Electric Vehicle Class has placed first in the Nation in the past eleven years in the EV Challenge competition. 

Dual Enrollment

Students may enroll in college courses and gain high school and college credit simultaneously. Tuition fees are waived if courses are taken at Cape Fear Community College.  Tuition fees are not waived if courses are taken at UNC-Wilmington. Dual enrollment applications with school administrative approval, completion of registration card and placement test scores are required prior to enrolling. Three to five semester hours of college credit is equal to one unit of high school credit. Students must take at least two courses at Topsail High School and may not register for classes off campus that are offered at the school unless there is a scheduling conflict.

UNC-W requirements[edit]

1. GPA: 3.5 weighted
2. Must be a high school junior or senior.
3. Must complete Dual Enrollment Application with school administration approval.
4. Must have a PSAT score of 760, SAT score of 1170, and/or ACT score of 24 or higher.[4]

Quality Points and Credit:

1. Students may only take 2 undergraduate courses per term.

1. Must be a high school junior or senior.
2. Must complete the application on CFNC.
3. Must meet the required criteria on the Accuplacer Test at Cape Fear Community College and earn proficiency prior to enrollment OR have qualifying ACT or SAT scores.

Quality Points and Credit:

1. Students will receive one unit of high school credit for three to five hours of college credit passed, if the contact hours are no less than 135.
2. Students will receive college credit for courses taken and passed.
3. All students will receive AP credit for each College Transfer course passed.