Very Good
#478 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 18% in state
Atlantic Elementary
Elementary School · Carteret County Public Schools
PO Box 98, Atlantic, NC 28511
Enrollment
91
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
91
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
North Carolina elementary schools
#426 of 1,474
In district
#7 of 16
Carteret County Public Schools
School environment
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Atlantic Elementary
Atlantic Elementary serves 91 students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small coastal community of Atlantic, North Carolina. This highly-regarded public school ranks an impressive #25 out of 2,661 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 99th percentile with a strong 8.9 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. With just 9 full-time teachers, the school maintains an excellent 10.1-to-1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention in small classroom settings.
Academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with 76% of students achieving proficiency or above in mathematics and 58% meeting or exceeding standards in English language arts and reading. Despite serving a community where the median household income is $46,683 and nearly 19% of residents live below the poverty line, Atlantic Elementary demonstrates that rural schools can achieve exceptional results. The school's success is especially remarkable given that only 16% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees, yet the dedicated staff consistently helps students reach high academic standards.
Atlantic Elementary sits in Carteret County's remote rural landscape, serving a tight-knit coastal community of just over 600 residents where traditional values and educational excellence go hand in hand.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 91 students, Atlantic Elementary is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Atlantic Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Atlantic Elementary — Students at Atlantic Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
62.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.5/10.
How Atlantic Elementary Compares
See how Atlantic Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 54.5% (2019) to 81.1% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 54.5% (2019) to 67.6% (2025).
Location
PO Box 98, Atlantic, NC 28511
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Atlantic Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fred A Anderson Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 30.4 miles away, in nearby Bayboro), which scores notably higher. Another option is Pamlico County Primary (rated 9.1/10, 30.5 miles away, in nearby Bayboro), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Beaufort Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 20.3 miles away, in nearby Beaufort), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Atlantic, see our Atlantic schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 30.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary Smyrna | 13.7 mi | 8.1 |
| Harkers Island Elementary Harkers Island | 17.7 mi | 8.1 |
| East Carteret High Beaufort | 17.9 mi | 6.6 |
| Tiller School Beaufort | 19.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Beaufort Middle Beaufort | 20.1 mi | 7.5 |
| Beaufort Elementary Beaufort | 20.3 mi | 8.4 |
| ST EGBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Morehead City | 24.5 mi | 7.5 |
| A SEA OF LEARNING Morehead City | 24.9 mi | 4.1 |
| Morehead City Middle Morehead City | 24.9 mi | 6.5 |
| Ocracoke School Ocracoke | 26.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn Morehead City | 25.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Morehead City Primary Morehead City | 26.8 mi | 5.9 |
| West Carteret High Morehead City | 27.1 mi | 5.0 |
| Bridges School Morehead City | 27.3 mi | — |
| Pamlico County Middle Bayboro | 29.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Arapahoe Charter School Arapahoe | 28.6 mi | 8.0 |
| CHOSEN GENERATION CHRIST. ACADEMY Morehead City | 28.9 mi | — |
| Fred A Anderson Elementary Bayboro | 30.4 mi | 9.1 |
| Pamlico County High Bayboro | 30.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Pamlico County Primary Bayboro | 30.5 mi | 9.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28511 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$56,328
Median Home Value
$154,900
Population
627
College Educated
18.6%
Homeownership
91.1%
Poverty Rate
18.7%
Median Age
35.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Atlantic Elementary has a median household income of $56,328. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,900. The area has a poverty rate of 18.7%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| HIGH POINT FRIENDS SCHOOL High Point, NC | 7.9 |
| Traphill Elementary School Traphill, NC | 7.9 |
| CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-NORTH RALEIGH Raleigh, NC | 8.0 |
| Creswell Elementary Creswell, NC | 8.0 |
| IMMACULATA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hendersonville, NC | 8.0 |
| MONTESSORI CHILDRENS SCHOOL Jacksonville, NC | 7.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Atlantic Elementary
What grades does Atlantic Elementary serve?
Atlantic Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Atlantic Elementary?
Atlantic Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 91 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Atlantic Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Atlantic Elementary is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Atlantic Elementary rank in NC?
Atlantic Elementary is ranked #478 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Atlantic Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Atlantic Elementary has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Atlantic Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Atlantic Elementary has 73.2% math proficiency and 60.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Atlantic Elementary a charter school?
No, Atlantic Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Atlantic Elementary a Title I school?
No, Atlantic Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Atlantic Elementary?
62.6% of students at Atlantic Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 91
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 62.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Carteret County
- Phone
- (252) 225-3961
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Carteret County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 8,035
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,846
- District Rank
- #7 of 16
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.