For the 2025 school year, there are 17 public schools serving 7,451 students in Carteret County, NC (there are , serving 613 private students). 92% of all K-12 students in Carteret County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Carteret County, NC are Croatan High School, West Carteret High School and Broad Creek Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Carteret County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 61% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Carteret County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Carteret County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Croatan High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1 Cougar Lane
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-7022
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-7022
Gr: 9-12 | 1,015 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #22.
West Carteret High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4700 Country Club Road
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1176
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1176
Gr: 9-12 | 1,097 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #33.
Broad Creek Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2382 Hwy 24
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 247-3135
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 247-3135
Gr: 6-8 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #44.
Tiller School
Charter School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1950 Live Oak Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-1995
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-1995
Gr: K-5 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #55.
Atlantic Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
151 School Drive
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Atlantic, NC 28511
(252) 225-3961
Gr: PK-5 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #66.
Bogue Sound Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3323 Highway 24
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 393-1279
Gr: PK-5 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #77.
East Carteret High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3263 Hwy 70 E
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3514
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3514
Gr: 9-12 | 546 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #88.
Morehead City Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Barbour Road
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1126
Gr: 6-8 | 524 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #99.
Down East Middle And Smyrna Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
174 Marshallberg Road
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Smyrna, NC 28579
(252) 729-2301
Gr: PK-8 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1010.
Morehead City Primary
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4409 Country Club Road
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 247-2448
Gr: PK-3 | 517 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1111.
Harkers Island Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1163 Island Road
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Harkers Island, NC 28531
(252) 728-3755
Gr: K-5 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1212.
Beaufort Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
110 Carraway Drive
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3316
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1313.
Morehead Elementary At Camp Glenn
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3316 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1131
Gr: 4-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1414.
Newport Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 E Chatham Street
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-3482
Gr: 6-8 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1515.
Beaufort Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Carraway Drive
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-4520
Gr: 6-8 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1616.
Newport Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
219 Chatham Street
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Newport, NC 28570
(252) 223-4201
Gr: K-5 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1717.
Bridges School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
140 Vashti Dr
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Gr: 6-12 | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Carteret County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Bridges Alternative School (Closed 2010)
Alternative School
1108 Bridges Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 808-3040
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 808-3040
Gr: PK-12 | 68 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
1108 Bridges Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1601
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-1601
Gr: 9-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
3505 Arendell St
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 222-7990
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 222-7990
Gr: 12-13 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Carteret County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Carteret County, NC include Croatan High School, West Carteret High School and Broad Creek Middle School.
How many public schools are located in Carteret County?
17 public schools are located in Carteret County.
What percentage of students in Carteret County go to public school?
92% of all K-12 students in Carteret County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Carteret County?
Carteret County public schools minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Carteret County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Carteret County include: Newport Middle School vs. Broad Creek Middle School, Harkers Island Elementary School vs. Down East Middle And Smyrna Elementary School, Broad Creek Middle School vs. Newport Middle School
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