WILSON’S MILLS – On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) held a groundbreaking ceremony for Wilson’s Mills High, the school district’s newest project. Attendees included graduates of the original Wilson’s Mills High, community members, Town of Wilson’s Mills employees, Wilson’s Mills Alumni Association members, Johnston County Board of Education members, JCPS leadership, and Johnston County Commissioners.
Slated to open in fall of 2026, the 278,000 square foot facility which is centrally located in Johnston County, 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.
The school will be the 50th in JCPS, and will be instrumental in alleviating some of the schools’ capacity challenges due to the exponential growth in the central Johnston County area. Wilson’s Mills High will make an immediate impact by relieving overcrowding of Polenta, Cleveland, West View, McGee’s Crossroads, Dixon Road, Four Oaks, and Wilson’s Mills elementary schools.
The contemporary design fully integrates the school district’s focus on creating safe and secure learning and work environments. The main vestibule has clear visibility and multiple points of hardware access control that create a multi-layered security approach. It also boasts a total of 11 science labs, 600 seat auditorium, auxiliary gymnasium, and unique learning spaces for a robust course catalog and special programs.
There is a two-story commons that will serve as a dining space, flexible learning space, or athletics and community event space. The commons is also the meeting point between the arts and athletic wing meets the academic wing.
Johnston County is experiencing prolific growth that has created school capacity challenges within the school district. JCPS, voters, local government bodies, and community stakeholders are committed to adding additional facilities, as evidenced by the approval of the 2022 bond referendum that included the building of the high school. A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters the power to decide if a municipality should be authorized to raise funds through the issuance of general obligation bonds.
“Some areas have the issue of slowed growth, which causes some to close schools. We are fortunate that this is not a problem of ours,” said Friends of Johnston County Public Schools (FOJCPS) Committee Chair Landis Bullock. “With continued growth and the work of the Board of Education and Board of Commissioners, we will continue to build schools, providing excellent learning environments for students and perfect professional spaces for educators.”
FOJCPS is the group of community volunteers who support the bond referendum efforts throughout the county. The committee ensures that the public is knowledgeable of the referendum process, the needs of the school district, and raises awareness of the many efforts of the committee.
Wilson’s Mills Mayor Fleta Byrd, a graduate of the original school, is elated to have the school in town. After many hours of planning, she is more excited than ever. “I am so proud and so thankful,” Byrd said. ”It brings back the high school!”
Jim Uzzle, President of the Wilson’s Mills High Alumni Association, and several other graduates attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The alumni association is 300 members strong. The original Wilson’s Mills High School was demolished in 1969 due to a lack of students in the area.
The new Wilson’s Mills High will bridge the past and the future by keeping the mascot as the Green Waves. The former graduates believe that the students and staff will maintain the level of accomplishments and goals that the predecessors accomplished over 100 years ago. “Long live the Green Waves of Wilson’s Mills High School!” Uzzle exclaimed.
