Best Schools in Carteret County, NC
Carteret County, NC has 33 public schools (7 high, 7 middle, 15 elementary) serving 14,444 students. On average they score 67% on state proficiency tests against a projected 54%, so schools in Carteret County exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Carteret County, NC
The top high schools in Carteret County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Croatan High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 974 Students
2. East Carteret High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 530 Students
3. Swansboro High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1115 Students
4. West Carteret High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 8 - 12 • 1146 Students
5. Havelock High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Craven County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1104 Students
6. Marine Sci. And Tech. Early College Hs
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 12 - 13 • 49 Students
7. Bridges School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 8 Students
Best Middle Schools in Carteret County, NC
The top middle schools in Carteret County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Broad Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 710 Students
2. Tucker Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Craven County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 519 Students
3. Morehead City Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 482 Students
4. Beaufort Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 258 Students
5. Swansboro Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 967 Students
6. Newport Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 378 Students
7. Havelock Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Craven County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 395 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Carteret County, NC
The top elementary schools in Carteret County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Atlantic Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 88 Students
2. Bogue Sound Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 467 Students
3. W Jesse Gurganus Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Craven County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 373 Students
4. Harkers Island Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 117 Students
5. White Oak Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 772 Students
6. Swansboro Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 668 Students
7. Beaufort Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 378 Students
8. Tiller School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tiller School • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 195 Students
9. Newport Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 645 Students
10. Morehead City Primary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carteret County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 3 • 545 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Carteret County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Carteret County, NC has a total population of 67,686 with 19% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 93%, and 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Carteret County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Carteret County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
16.61 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.16 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
13.45 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Carteret County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Carteret County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Carteret County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Carteret County, NC
How many schools are in Carteret County, NC?
Carteret County, NC has 33 public schools: 7 high schools, 7 middle schools and 15 elementary schools, serving 14,444 students in total.
How do schools in Carteret County perform on state tests?
On average, 33 schools in Carteret County score 67% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 54%, so on average schools in Carteret County exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Carteret County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Carteret County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 53%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Carteret County
7 places in Carteret County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (7)
- Morehead City (5)
- Newport (5)
- Beaufort (4)
- Atlantic (1)
- Cape Carteret (1)
- Harkers Island (1)
- Smyrna (1)
School districts (1)
- Carteret County Public Schools (18 schools)