There were 8,012 students enrolled in Carteret County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.2% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
West Carteret High School registered the highest enrollment among Carteret County’s 18 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 1,059 students.
North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.
If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Carteret High School | 1,103 | 1,059 | -4% |
| Croatan High School | 957 | 965 | 0.8% |
| White Oak Elementary School | 746 | 754 | 1.1% |
| Broad Creek Middle School | 715 | 742 | 3.8% |
| Newport Elementary School | 650 | 625 | -3.8% |
| Morehead City Middle School | 481 | 526 | 9.4% |
| East Carteret High School | 515 | 521 | 1.2% |
| Morehead City Primary School | 522 | 512 | -1.9% |
| Bogue Sound Elementary School | 460 | 439 | -4.6% |
| Newport Middle School | 372 | 375 | 0.8% |
| Beaufort Elementary School | 367 | 353 | -3.8% |
| Beaufort Middle School | 256 | 256 | 0% |
| Morehead Elementary at Camp Glenn | 290 | 254 | -12.4% |
| Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary School | 231 | 233 | 0.9% |
| Tiller School | 197 | 198 | 0.5% |
| Harkers Island Elementary School | 116 | 112 | -3.4% |
| Atlantic Elementary School | 74 | 76 | 2.7% |
| Bridges School | 12 | 12 | 0% |
