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 preschools serving 3,019 students in Carteret County School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Carteret County School District have an average math proficiency score of 66% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
1,005 Schools
# Students
7,847 Students
477,346 Students
# Teachers
499 Teachers
32,717 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
0.73
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%
24%
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%
40%
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 Preschools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #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.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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%
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