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 12 public schools serving 4,968 students in Dare County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Dare County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
4,968 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
345 Teachers
96,132 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.
Overall District Rank
#100 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)57%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)93%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
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.
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 Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Manteo High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
829 Wingina Avenue
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-5841
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-5841
Gr: 9-12 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #22.
First Flight Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
109 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-8888
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-8888
Gr: 6-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #33.
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
16 Dogwood Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #44.
First Flight High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
100 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 449-7000
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 449-7000
Gr: 9-12 | 874 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #55.
Nags Head Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3100 S Wrightsville Avenue
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-8880
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-8880
Gr: PK-5 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #66.
Manteo Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 N Hwy 64
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-5549
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-5549
Gr: 6-8 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #77.
Cape Hatteras Secondary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
48576 Highway 12
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-5730
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-5730
Gr: 6-12 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #88.
First Flight Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
107 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-1111
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 441-1111
Gr: PK-5 | 285 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #99.
Dare Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
100 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 480-8888
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 480-8888
Gr: 9-12 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1010.
Cape Hatteras Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
47500 Middle Ridge
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-6196
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-6196
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1111.
Manteo Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
701 N Hwy 64/264
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-2742
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-2742
Gr: PK-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Dare County Schools?
Dare County Schools manages 12 public schools serving 4,968 students.
What is the rank of Dare County Schools?
Dare County Schools is ranked #103 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 5%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Dare County Schools?
71% of Dare County Schools students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Dare County Schools?
Dare County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Dare County Schools's spending/student ratio?
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.
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