Brunswick County Schools superintendent talks future growth

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Brunswick County Schools is working to keep pace with growth in one of the fastest growing counties in the country. 

Superintendent Dale Cole says the majority of that growth is happening in the northern part of the county near Leland.

That strain is putting increased pressure on schools like North Brunswick High School, which received a new 16-classroom building last year. 

“The campus, the property that North Brunswick High School is on is completely built out. We can’t add any more buildings to it,” Cole noted. 

Cole says in the coming years, the district will need to build at least two elementary schools and one high school to meet new enrollment estimates. 

One of those schools includes a new elementary school in Jackey’s Creek, which was approved by the school board last week. 

The new school will be built on a 64-acre site along US 17 with a price tag just under $100 million.

Cole says over the next decade, the district expects to enroll thousands of new students. 

“If you’re talking 50,000 homes that are in the pipeline to be built, even if 10% of them have one child, you’re talking 5,000, if it’s two children, 10,000. Our high schools in general are 1500 students, our elementary schools are 750 students,” he explained. 

Cole does caution though; it’s difficult to accurately estimate how many new students will come to the district.  

“You know, we don’t know how aggressive the developers are going to be,” he said. “You have to ride around and look and see where the developments are to be able to see that.” 

It’s not just the northern part of the county that’s growing rapidly. 

Cole says the district is also keeping a close eye on the central part of the county between Shallotte and Bolivia. 

“A lot of houses are going up there, so it’s looking like that may end up being the next spot,” he said. 

The district is hoping to close the property for the new elementary school this fall. The school is set to open by the start of the 2028 school year.