Carteret County Education: Which school had most students enrolled in 2023-24 school year?

West Carteret High School had the highest enrollment among Carteret County schools, welcoming 1,059 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the 18 schools in Carteret County, Croatan High School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 965 students, while White Oak Elementary School welcomed 754 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

West Carteret High School is part of Carteret County Public Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Carteret County and has a main office in Beaufort.

In the previous school year, West Carteret High School also had the highest number of students among Carteret County schools.

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.