Carteret County Public Schools

Beaufort, North Carolina — 18 schools

8,081
Total Enrollment
18
Schools
$13,818
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Carteret County Public Schools operates 18 public schools serving 8,081 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 other, 4 high, 4 elementary, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 7,896 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Carteret County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,818 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 26.2% local, 54.7% state, and 19.2% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $80,856 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 64/100, ranked #64 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 18 schools offering Advanced Placement (32 AP courses district-wide), a 268.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 76.6% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 5.7% African American across the district's schools.

Carteret County Public Schools school enrollment varies 100× across entities

Carteret County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 11 students (lowest) to 1,095 students (highest), a spread of 1,084 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Carteret County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 83.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Carteret County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 269:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Carteret County Public Schools is typically wider than the Carteret County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Carteret County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 25.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Carteret County Public Schools is typically wider than the Carteret County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.2%
Federal
54.7%
State
26.2%
Local

Funding Equity

64
Equity Score
64 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Carteret County county, where this district is located.

$907
Studio/mo
$913
1 BR/mo
$1,198
2 BR/mo
$1,541
3 BR/mo
$1,966
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$80,856
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 18 schools in Carteret County Public Schools.

White 76.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
African American 5.7%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 6.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 18
Schools with AP
32 AP courses total
268.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Carteret County Public Schools

School Enrollment
West Carteret High
1,095
Croatan High
1,019
White Oak Elementary
784
Broad Creek Middle
722
Newport Elementary
621
East Carteret High
521
Morehead City Middle
506
Morehead City Primary
502
Bogue Sound Elementary
416
Beaufort Elementary
346
Newport Middle
346
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary
262
Beaufort Middle
260
Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn
253
Harkers Island Elementary
95
Atlantic Elementary
88
Marine Sci. and Tech. Early College Hs
49
Bridges School
11

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $14,074/pupil
Compare vs Carteret County Public Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $15,997/pupil
Compare vs Carteret County Public Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,788/pupil
Compare vs Carteret County Public Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,982/pupil
Compare vs Carteret County Public Schools →

Compare Carteret County Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Carteret County Public Schools?

Carteret County Public Schools has 18 schools, including 4 high, 7 other, 3 middle, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,081 students.

How much does Carteret County Public Schools spend per student?

Carteret County Public Schools spends $13,818 per student. The district has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #64 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Carteret County Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Carteret County Public Schools is $80,856 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Carteret County Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Carteret County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Carteret County Public Schools?

Carteret County Public Schools students are 76.6% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 5.7% African American, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 18 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Carteret County Public Schools?

Carteret County Public Schools has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #64 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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