Can I use Carteret County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Carteret County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Carteret County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Carteret County?

Start with the 19 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Carteret County Schools & Education

Name: Carteret County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Carteret County, North Carolina

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,998

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#64

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Carteret County

Measured School Summary

Carteret County faces educational challenges with a school score of 33/100 and a graduation rate of 86.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,998 per pupil, Carteret County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 17% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Carteret County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

19 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

33/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #64 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

86.0%

2.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,998

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Carteret County has 19 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Carteret County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Carteret County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 18 of 19 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#64

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Carteret County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

8,081 students

Elementary 9Middle 4High 5Other 0

18 listed schools in this county slice.

Tiller School

Elementary school only in this slice

195 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Carteret County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 18 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Carteret County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Carteret County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Carteret County, North Carolina

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Coastal Education Across 19 Public Schools

Carteret County supports 8,276 students through a network of 19 public schools across 2 districts. The landscape consists of 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools, providing comprehensive coverage for coastal communities. One alternative school is also available to support students with non-traditional learning needs.

Carteret County Public Schools and Charter Options

Carteret County Public Schools is the primary district, serving 8,081 students in 18 different schools. Tiller School operates as a charter alternative, providing specialized education for 195 students. This dual-district system offers families a choice between a large public network and a smaller charter environment.

Town and Rural Locales with Moderate Sizes

The county's schools are located in 11 town settings and 8 rural areas, offering a distinct coastal-town feel. West Carteret High is the largest campus with 1,146 students, while the average school size across the county is 436. This moderate sizing allows for robust student activities without losing the sense of local community.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Carteret County

Reported Enrollment

8,276

19 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

5% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10

Middle4

High5

Other0

2 School Districts in Carteret County

Carteret County Public Schools

Tiller School

1 school

195 students

19 Public Schools in Carteret County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 19 of 19 matching schools

Public schools in Carteret County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
West Carteret High	Profile	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,146
Croatan High	Profile	Carteret County Public Schools	Newport, 28570Town: Distant	9–12	High	974
White Oak Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Cape Carteret, 28584Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	772
Broad Creek Middle	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Newport, 28570Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	710
Newport Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Newport, 28570Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	645
Morehead City Primary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Town: Distant	PK–3	Primary	545
East Carteret High	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Beaufort, 28516Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	530
Morehead City Middle	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	482
Bogue Sound Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Newport, 28570Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	467
Beaufort Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Beaufort, 28516Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	378
Newport Middle	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Newport, 28570Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	378
Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Town: Distant	4–5	Primary	285
Beaufort Middle	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Beaufort, 28516Town: Distant	5–8	Middle	258
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Smyrna, 28579Rural: Distant	PK–8	Primary	249
Tiller School	Record	Tiller School	Beaufort, 28516Town: Distant	KG–5	Charter	195
Harkers Island Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Harkers Island, 28531Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	117
Atlantic Elementary	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Atlantic, 28511Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	88
Marine Sci. and Tech. Early College HS	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Town: Distant	12–UG	High	49
Bridges School	Record	Carteret County Public Schools	Morehead City, 28557Town: Distant	6–12	Alternative	8

West Carteret High

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,146 students

Croatan High

Carteret County Public Schools

Newport, 28570 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High974 students

White Oak Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Cape Carteret, 28584 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary772 students

Broad Creek Middle

Carteret County Public Schools

Newport, 28570 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle710 students

Newport Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Newport, 28570 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary645 students

Morehead City Primary

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary545 students

East Carteret High

Carteret County Public Schools

Beaufort, 28516 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High530 students

Morehead City Middle

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle482 students

Bogue Sound Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Newport, 28570 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary467 students

Beaufort Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Beaufort, 28516 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary378 students

Newport Middle

Carteret County Public Schools

Newport, 28570 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle378 students

Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Town: Distant

Record4–5Primary285 students

Beaufort Middle

Carteret County Public Schools

Beaufort, 28516 / Town: Distant

Record5–8Middle258 students

Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Smyrna, 28579 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary249 students

Tiller School

Beaufort, 28516 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Charter195 students

Harkers Island Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Harkers Island, 28531 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary117 students

Atlantic Elementary

Carteret County Public Schools

Atlantic, 28511 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary88 students

Marine Sci. and Tech. Early College HS

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Town: Distant

Record12–UGHigh49 students

Bridges School

Carteret County Public Schools

Morehead City, 28557 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Alternative8 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,998

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Carteret County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?

Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Carteret County?

Carteret County has a school score of 33/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Carteret County?

The high school graduation rate in Carteret County is 86.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Carteret County spend per student?

Carteret County spends $6,998 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Carteret County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Carteret County, North Carolina?

What are the major school districts in Carteret County, North Carolina?

What is the school experience like in Carteret County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Catawba County

North Carolina

-0 pts

33/100

School score

Durham County

North Carolina

+0 pts

33/100

School score

Rockingham County

North Carolina

+0 pts

33/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Explore more data for Carteret County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score