JCPS celebrates with Topping Out ceremony for Wilson’s Mills High

SMITHFIELD, NC - On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) celebrated the completion of the structural framework of the new Wilson’s Mills High with a beam signing and topping out ceremony. 

The event was hosted by Barnhill Contracting Company, the general contractors of the Wilson’s Mills High project. Attendees included alumni of the original Wilson’s Mills High, community members, Town of Wilson’s Mills employees, Johnston County Board of Education members, JCPS leadership, and Johnston County Commissioners and government officials, who were all excited about the project and what it represents for the county. 

“We are thrilled to open Wilson’s Mills High in the fall of 2026 as the 50th school in Johnston County Public Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy. "This is a monumental occurrence in Johnston County, showcasing how significant education is to our stakeholders in the past and present." 

The 278,000 square foot facility is centrally located in Johnston County, and will house all the elements for 21st-century learning and beyond. The high school, located at 517 Talton Farm Road, Wilson’s Mills, will have the capacity for 2,000 students in grades 9-12, with a three-story academic wing and a two-story arts and athletics wing. 

“In less than 479 days, students and staff will kick off Fall sport tryouts and begin preparing the Wilson’s Mills High School campus for the 2026 school year,” stated Assistant Superintendent of Administrative and Auxiliary Services Dr. David Pearce. “The campus is set to cultivate an environment that prepares students for the next steps in their lives and also ensures they will always carry the pride and spirit of being a Wilson’s Mills Green Wave.”

The new Wilson’s Mills High, which will bridge the past and the future by keeping the mascot as the Green Waves, will be the 50th school in the district. The school will immediately alleviate district-wide capacity challenges due to the exponential growth in the central Johnston County area and provide a great learning environment for area students.

The contemporary design fully integrates the school district’s focus on creating safe and secure learning and work environments. The vestibule has clear visibility and multiple points of hardware access control that create a multi-layered security approach. The school also boasts 11 science labs, a 600-seat auditorium, an auxiliary gymnasium, and unique learning spaces for a robust course catalog and special programs. 

“The new campus represents our continued commitment to meeting the needs of our growing community. It will open doors to meaningful educational opportunities and help ensure every student in the area has access to a high-quality learning experience," noted Bracy. "We look forward to the positive impact this school will have for our students and the community for years to come.”

Many event attendees commented on how impactful the event was as it relates to the fruition of the school building itself, including Wilson’s Mills Mayor Fleta Byrd. “I think this event is wonderful! This makes it real. We’ve talked about it and worked with the county and school board for so long, and now it’s actually here and it’s beautiful,” Byrd remarked.