Dare County Schools School District
School District · Nags Head, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
11
5 elem, 2 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
5,102
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
11
5 elem, 2 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
5,102
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#28 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,996
+$884 vs North Carolina median
District size
5,102 students
Typical than North Carolina median
The short answer
Dare County Schools ranks #28 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Dare County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are First Flight High School (8.6/10), Manteo High School (7.9/10), and Nags Head Elementary School (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 43% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Dare County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Dare County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Dare County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Flight High School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Manteo High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Nags Head Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Kitty Hawk Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | First Flight Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Cape Hatteras Secondary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | First Flight Middle School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Manteo Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Cape Hatteras Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Manteo Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
See all 11 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Dare County Schools
Dare County Schools is a Nags Head, North Carolina school district serving 11 schools.The district educates 5,102 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1. District-level spending was $13,996 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, Dare County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is First Flight High School, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Dare County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 58.1% and ELA proficiency of 56.2%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Dare County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Dare County Schools with test data.
Schools in Dare County Schools
11 schoolsElementary Schools5
Middle Schools2
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Nags Head
- Total Enrollment
- 5,102
- Teachers (FTE)
- 416
- District spending per student
- $13,996NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Dare County Schools?
Dare County Schools has 11 schools in total — 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Dare County Schools?
The average composite rating for Dare County Schools is 6.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Dare County Schools?
Dare County Schools's district-level spending was $13,996 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dare County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Dare County Schools is 12.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Dare County Schools?
First Flight High School is the highest-rated school in Dare County Schools with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Dare County Schools?
Across schools in Dare County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 58.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Dare County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Dare County Schools has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 11 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 58.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 56.2%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Dare County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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