Onslow County Schools & Education
Onslow County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,705
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#31
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Onslow County
Measured School Summary
Onslow County performs at an average level with a school score of 44/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,705 per pupil, Onslow County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 11% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Onslow 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
41 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
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #31 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
91.0%
3.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,705
$264 below the state average
School coverage
41
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Onslow County has 41 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.
What Onslow 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
Onslow County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 40 of 41 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#31
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points above 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.
Onslow County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
27,921 students
40 listed schools in this county slice.
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology
Elementary school only in this slice
99 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Onslow County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 40 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 Onslow County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Onslow 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 Onslow 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.
A Large Scale Military-Adjacent School System
Onslow County supports a massive educational network of 41 public schools serving 28,020 students. This includes 24 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 9 high schools designed to accommodate a large, mobile population. The infrastructure is primarily managed by two districts to ensure consistency across the county.
Centralized Management with Specialized Charters
Onslow County Schools dominates the landscape, managing 40 schools and 27,921 students. The Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology provides a charter alternative for families seeking specialized instruction for their 99 enrolled students. This balance allows for large-scale resources alongside niche educational opportunities.
Diverse Settings from City to Countryside
Students experience a mix of locales, with 15 schools in city settings and 13 in rural areas. The average school size is 683 students, but high schools like Jacksonville High serve over 1,400 students. This variety ensures that families can find either a bustling urban campus or a quieter rural school environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
41
in Onslow County
Reported Enrollment
28,020
41 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
2% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Onslow County
Onslow County Schools
GuideZ.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology
41 Public Schools in Onslow County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 9 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 41 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28540City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,423 |
| White Oak High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,207 |
| Dixon High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Holly Ridge, 28445Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,149 |
| Swansboro High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Swansboro, 28584Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,115 |
| Northside High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,097 |
| Jacksonville Commons Middle | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 1,011 |
| Swansboro Middle | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Swansboro, 28584Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 967 |
| Richlands High | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Richlands, 28574Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 960 |
| Dixon Middle | Profile | Onslow County Schools | Sneads Ferry, 28460Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 948 |
| Hunters Creek Middle | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 922 |
| Trexler Middle | Record | Onslow County Schools | Richlands, 28574Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 825 |
| Coastal Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Holly Ridge, 28445Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 822 |
| Queens Creek Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Swansboro, 28584Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 751 |
| Southwest Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28540Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 742 |
| Dixon Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Holly Ridge, 28445Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 736 |
| Southwest High | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28540Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 702 |
| Northwoods Park Middle | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28540City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 688 |
| Morton Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 682 |
| Carolina Forest Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville, 28546City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 678 |
| Swansboro Elementary | Record | Onslow County Schools | Swansboro, 28584Town: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 668 |
Jacksonville High
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28540 / City: Small
White Oak High
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / Rural: Fringe
Dixon High
Onslow County Schools
Holly Ridge, 28445 / Rural: Fringe
Swansboro High
Onslow County Schools
Swansboro, 28584 / Town: Fringe
Northside High
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / City: Small
Jacksonville Commons Middle
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / City: Small
Swansboro Middle
Onslow County Schools
Swansboro, 28584 / Town: Fringe
Richlands High
Onslow County Schools
Richlands, 28574 / Rural: Distant
Dixon Middle
Onslow County Schools
Sneads Ferry, 28460 / Rural: Fringe
Hunters Creek Middle
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / Suburb: Midsize
Coastal Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Holly Ridge, 28445 / Rural: Distant
Queens Creek Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Swansboro, 28584 / Town: Fringe
Southwest Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28540 / Suburb: Midsize
Dixon Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Holly Ridge, 28445 / Rural: Fringe
Northwoods Park Middle
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28540 / City: Small
Morton Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / Rural: Fringe
Carolina Forest Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Jacksonville, 28546 / City: Small
Swansboro Elementary
Onslow County Schools
Swansboro, 28584 / Town: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,705
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Onslow County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Onslow County?
What is the graduation rate in Onslow County?
How much does Onslow County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Onslow County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Onslow County supports a massive educational network of 41 public schools serving 28,020 students. This includes 24 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 9 high schools designed to accommodate a large, mobile population. The infrastructure is primarily managed by two districts to ensure consistency across the county.
What are the major school districts in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Onslow County Schools dominates the landscape, managing 40 schools and 27,921 students. The Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology provides a charter alternative for families seeking specialized instruction for their 99 enrolled students. This balance allows for large-scale resources alongside niche educational opportunities.
What is the school experience like in Onslow County?
Students experience a mix of locales, with 15 schools in city settings and 13 in rural areas. The average school size is 683 students, but high schools like Jacksonville High serve over 1,400 students. This variety ensures that families can find either a bustling urban campus or a quieter rural school environment.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.