Top Rankings
Carteret County Public Schools 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 school year, there are 14 public elementary schools serving 5,377 students in Carteret County Public Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Carteret County Public Schools have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
2,170 Schools
# Students
8,035 Students
1,090,293 Students
# Teachers
585 Teachers
73,857 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Carteret County Public Schools, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 320 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)65%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
77%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.39
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
21%
% Black
5%
25%
% White
77%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,769 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,764 is higher than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$95 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$95 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,769
$11,192
Spending / Student
$11,764
$11,617
Best Carteret County Public Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
555 Wb Mclean Drive
Swansboro, NC 28584
(252) 393-3990
Swansboro, NC 28584
(252) 393-3990
Gr: PK-5 | 785 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Atlantic Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
151 School Drive
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Gr: PK-5 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #44.
Bogue Sound Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3323 Highway 24
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Gr: PK-5 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #55.
Morehead City Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Barbour Road
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Gr: 6-8 | 524 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #66.
Down East Middle And Smyrna Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
174 Marshallberg Road
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Gr: PK-8 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #77.
Morehead City Primary
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4409 Country Club Road
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Gr: PK-3 | 517 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #88.
Harkers Island Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1163 Island Road
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Gr: K-5 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #99.
Beaufort Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
110 Carraway Drive
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1010.
Morehead Elementary At Camp Glenn
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3316 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Gr: 4-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1111.
Newport Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 E Chatham Street
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Gr: 6-8 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1212.
Beaufort Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Carraway Drive
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Gr: 6-8 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1313.
Newport Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
219 Chatham Street
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Gr: K-5 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1414.
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 | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
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