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 4 public high schools serving 2,646 students in Carteret County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Carteret County School District have an average math proficiency score of 76% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Carteret County School District have a Graduation Rate of 84%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Carteret High School, with 85-89% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
7,847 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
499 Teachers
31,535 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
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
11%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
4%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
77%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
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 High 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.
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: #44.
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%
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