Dare County Schools

3020 S. Wrightsville Ave
Nags Head, NC 27959
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Dare County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 3,527 students in Dare County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Dare County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
4,968 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
345 Teachers
71,767 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Dare County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% 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 93% has increased from 91% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#100 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(21-22)
57%
51%
57%
50%
71%
63%
(21-22)
93%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.45
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
21%
22%
% Black
1%
24%
% White
71%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,618 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,220 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$68 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,618
$11,168
Spending / Student
$13,220
$11,592

Best Dare County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
First Flight Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
109 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-8888
Gr: 6-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #22.
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
16 Dogwood Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #33.
Nags Head Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3100 S Wrightsville Avenue
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-8880
Gr: PK-5 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #44.
Manteo Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1000 N Hwy 64
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-5549
Gr: 6-8 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Cape Hatteras Secondary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
48576 Highway 12
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-5730
Gr: 6-12 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #66.
First Flight Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
107 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-1111
Gr: PK-5 | 285 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #77.
Cape Hatteras Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
47500 Middle Ridge
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-6196
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #88.
Manteo Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
701 N Hwy 64/264
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-2742
Gr: PK-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,968 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 29%
  • : 93% (Top 5% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 57% (Top 30%)
  • : 57% (Top 50%)
  • : 71% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links