Top Rankings
Dare County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 11 public schools serving 5,102 students in Dare County Schools School District. 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 School District 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 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
11 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
5,102 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
414 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Dare County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 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 decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#100 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
63%
Graduation Rate
93%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.45
0.71
# American Indian Students
5 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
34 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
1,021 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
20%
21%
# Black Students
71 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
1%
25%
# White Students
3,644 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
72%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
327 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
137
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
301
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
344
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
359
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
353
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
382
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
377
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
405
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
378
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
392
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
413
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
442
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
437
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
382
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,260 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,873 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$68 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,260
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,873
$11,612
Best Dare County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 530 students
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
Grades: 6-8
| 619 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 469 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 913 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 502 students
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
Grades: 6-8
| 396 students
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
Grades: 6-12
| 363 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 28 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 306 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 648 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Dare County Schools School District?
Dare County Schools School District manages 11 public schools serving 5,102 students.
What is the rank of Dare County Schools School District?
Dare County Schools School District is ranked #103 out of 320 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 20%), 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 School District?
72% of Dare County Schools School District students are White, 20% 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 School District?
Dare County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Dare County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,873 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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