The only school district in Dare County had declining enrollment in the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
There were 4,920 students in Dare County Schools, 1.4% lower than the year before.
The enrollment numbers in Dare County fell short of the state’s trend, which shows an overall increase in enrollment across North Carolina.
Dare County Schools has a main office in Nags Head and is the only school district within Dare County.
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 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Flight High School | 897 | 927 | -3.2% |
| First Flight Middle School | 615 | 610 | 0.8% |
| Manteo Elementary School | 614 | 627 | -2.1% |
| Manteo High School | 505 | – | – |
| Nags Head Elementary School | 473 | 489 | -3.3% |
| Kitty Hawk Elementary School | 454 | 451 | 0.7% |
| Manteo Middle School | 395 | 373 | 5.9% |
| Cape Hatteras Secondary School | 355 | 353 | 0.6% |
| First Flight Elementary School | 293 | 293 | 0% |
| Cape Hatteras Elementary School | 289 | 297 | -2.7% |
| Dare Learning Academy | 30 | 20 | 50% |
