Very Good
#791 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 30% in state
Harkers Island Elementary
Elementary School · Carteret County Public Schools
1163 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
12.3:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
12.3:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
North Carolina schools
#791 of 2,648
In district
#11 of 16
Carteret County Public Schools
School environment
8.8 / 10
Excellent
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Harkers Island Elementary
Elementary School in Harkers Island · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary
4.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Tiller School
5.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Harkers Island Elementary
Harkers Island Elementary is a public elementary school in Harkers Island, NC, part of Carteret County Public Schools. Harkers Island Elementary serves approximately 111 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Harkers Island Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #791 of 2,648 schools in NC.
Structured state assessment records for Harkers Island Elementary show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 7.3 · Very Good
- District avg 7.8
- NC avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
At 111 students, Harkers Island Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
Harkers Island Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
31% of students at Harkers Island Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Harkers Island Elementary — Students at Harkers Island Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
64%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 5.9/10.
How Harkers Island Elementary Compares
See how Harkers Island Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
1163 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Harkers Island Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Atlantic Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 17.7 miles away, in nearby Atlantic), which scores notably higher. Another option is Morehead City Primary (rated 8.1/10, 13.1 miles away, in nearby Morehead City), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Beaufort Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby Beaufort), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Harkers Island, see our Harkers Island schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 22.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary Smyrna | 4.6 mi | 7.8 |
| Tiller School Beaufort | 5.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Beaufort Middle Beaufort | 5.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Beaufort Elementary Beaufort | 5.9 mi | 8.0 |
| East Carteret High Beaufort | 7.5 mi | 8.0 |
| ST EGBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Morehead City | 10.1 mi | 7.5 |
| A SEA OF LEARNING Morehead City | 10.7 mi | 4.1 |
| Morehead City Middle Morehead City | 11.1 mi | 7.3 |
| Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn Morehead City | 11.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Morehead City Primary Morehead City | 13.1 mi | 8.1 |
| West Carteret High Morehead City | 13.6 mi | 6.2 |
| Bridges School Morehead City | 13.8 mi | — |
| CHOSEN GENERATION CHRIST. ACADEMY Morehead City | 15.8 mi | — |
| Atlantic Elementary Atlantic | 17.7 mi | 8.9 |
| Newport Middle Newport | 18.4 mi | 6.2 |
| Newport Elementary Newport | 18.7 mi | 5.8 |
| GRAMERCY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Newport | 20.8 mi | 7.4 |
| NEWPORT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Newport | 20.8 mi | 5.2 |
| Broad Creek Middle Newport | 20.7 mi | 7.7 |
| Roger Bell New Tech Academy Havelock | 22.7 mi | 6.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28531 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$58,750
Median Home Value
$295,500
Median Rent
$968/mo
Population
1,080
College Educated
23.2%
Homeownership
84.2%
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Median Age
59.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| MILESTONES ACADEMY Jacksonville, NC | 7.3 |
| Scotland Neck Elementary Leadership Acad Scotland Neck, NC | 7.2 |
| Bethel Elementary Sugar Grove, NC | 7.4 |
| OUR LADY PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC SCHOOL Rocky Mount, NC | 7.4 |
| Childrens Center Winston-Salem, NC | 7.1 |
| FOLLOW THE CHILD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Raleigh, NC | 7.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Harkers Island Elementary
What grades does Harkers Island Elementary serve?
Harkers Island Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Harkers Island Elementary?
Harkers Island Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 111 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harkers Island Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Harkers Island Elementary is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Harkers Island Elementary rank in NC?
Harkers Island Elementary ranks #791 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Harkers Island Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Harkers Island Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Harkers Island Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Harkers Island Elementary has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Harkers Island Elementary a charter school?
No, Harkers Island Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Harkers Island Elementary a Title I school?
No, Harkers Island Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harkers Island Elementary?
64.0% of students at Harkers Island 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.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 111
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 64.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Carteret County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.6%
- Phone
- (252) 728-3755
Resources & Links
District
Carteret County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 8,035
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,846
- District Rank
- #11 of 16
Other Schools in This District
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