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 7 public middle schools serving 3,202 students in Carteret County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Carteret County School District have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
7,847 Students
496,921 Students
# Teachers
499 Teachers
31,042 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%
43%
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 Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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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