Top Rankings
Carteret County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 17 public schools serving 7,847 students in Carteret County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Carteret County School District have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
2,729 Schools
# Students
7,847 Students
1,548,397 Students
# Teachers
499 Teachers
96,034 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Carteret County School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 84% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#64 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)65%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
77%
63%
Graduation Rate
84%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)24.2%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
11%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
4%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
77%
42%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,816 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,824 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$108 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$124 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$13,816
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$15,824
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Carteret County School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Croatan High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1 Cougar Ln
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-7022
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-7022
Gr: 9-12 | 1,019 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #22.
West Carteret High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4700 Country Club Rd
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1176
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1176
Gr: 8-12 | 1,095 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #33.
Broad Creek Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2382 Hwy 24
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 247-3135
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 247-3135
Gr: 6-8 | 722 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #44.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
555 Wb Mclean Dr
Swansboro, NC 28584
(252) 393-3990
Swansboro, NC 28584
(252) 393-3990
Gr: PK-5 | 784 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #55.
Atlantic Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
151 School Dr
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Gr: PK-5 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #66.
Bogue Sound Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3323 Hwy 24
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #77.
East Carteret High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3263 Hwy 70 E
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3514
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3514
Gr: 9-12 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #88.
Morehead City Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Barbour Rd
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Gr: 6-8 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #99.
Down East Middle And Smyrna Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
174 Marshallberg Rd
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Gr: PK-8 | 262 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1010.
Morehead City Primary
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4409 Country Club Rd
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Gr: PK-3 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1111.
Harkers Island Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1163 Island Rd
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Gr: K-5 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1212.
Beaufort Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
110 Carraway Dr
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Gr: PK-5 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1313.
Morehead Elementary At Camp Glenn
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3316 Arendell St
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Gr: 4-5 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1414.
Newport Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 E Chatham St
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Gr: 6-8 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1515.
Beaufort Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Carraway Dr
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Gr: 6-8 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1616.
Newport Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
219 Chatham St
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Gr: PK-5 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1717.
Bridges School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
140 Vashti Dr
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Gr: 6-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Carteret County School District?
Carteret County School District manages 17 public schools serving 7,847 students.
What is the rank of Carteret County School District?
Carteret County School District is ranked #65 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest science proficiency (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Carteret County School District?
77% of Carteret County School District students are White, 11% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Carteret County School District?
Carteret County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Carteret County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $15,824 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
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