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.
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 Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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%
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