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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

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 metrics
Student Progress6.5Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.62 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.3Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.1%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.6%
Math vs. State Avg+17.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+21 pts
Overall Proficiency74%
Expected (poverty-adj.)56%
vs. Expected+18.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.5Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,086

Atlantic Elementary — Students at Atlantic Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

62.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.2%
School
State
59.6%
ELA Proficiency 60.7%
School
State
51.0%

Based on 10 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
54.5%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
84.5%
ELA
74.5%
2025
Math
75.7%
ELA
58.2%

* 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.

Overall Score
7.9/10
82th percentile in NC
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
6.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
63%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
9 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
15 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (586/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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