Very Good
#894 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 34% in state
Cape Hatteras Secondary School
High School · Dare County Schools · Buxton, NC
A Dare County Schools high school serving grades 6th – 12th.
PO Box 948, Buxton, NC 27920
- Math 60% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 60% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Cape Hatteras Secondary School score 60% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 60% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
50.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Cape Hatteras Secondary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 14Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average559/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$67,054
Median home value
$385,400
Median rent
$1,295/mo
College educated
25.9%
Homeownership
75.7%
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27920; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 in Dare County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dare Learning AcademyEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 9–12 | Not available | 28 | Compare → |
| First Flight High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | 9–12 | Not available | 913 | Compare → |
| Manteo High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | 9–12 | Not available | 530 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Dare County Schools
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #5 of 10
- District spending per student
- $13,996NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cape Hatteras Secondary School is listed in Dare County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cape Hatteras Secondary School
Cape Hatteras Secondary School is a public high school in Buxton, NC, part of Dare County Schools, serving approximately 363 students in grades 6th-12th with a 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #894 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cape Hatteras Secondary School
What grades does Cape Hatteras Secondary School serve?
Cape Hatteras Secondary School serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Cape Hatteras Secondary School?
Cape Hatteras Secondary School has an enrollment of approximately 363 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cape Hatteras Secondary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cape Hatteras Secondary School is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cape Hatteras Secondary School rank in NC?
Cape Hatteras Secondary School ranks #894 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Cape Hatteras Secondary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cape Hatteras Secondary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Cape Hatteras Secondary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cape Hatteras Secondary School has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cape Hatteras Secondary School a charter school?
No, Cape Hatteras Secondary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cape Hatteras Secondary School a Title I school?
No, Cape Hatteras Secondary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cape Hatteras Secondary School?
50.4% of students at Cape Hatteras Secondary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 363
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Dare County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.6%
- Phone
- (252) 995-5730
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 27920)
- 1,451
- Area median age
- 50.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27920; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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