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 4 public high schools serving 1,805 students in Dare County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Dare County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 60% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Dare County School have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is First Flight High School, with 95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
760 Schools
# Students
4,968 Students
568,877 Students
# Teachers
345 Teachers
31,559 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
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
71%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
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 High 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 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: #33.
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: #44.
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%
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