Outer Banks Times

There were 4,920 students enrolled in Dare County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 10.8% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

First Flight High School registered the highest enrollment among Dare County's 11 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 897 students.

Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state's per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).

Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.

School name	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	Total Enrollment in 2023-24	% Change
First Flight High School	927	897	-3.2%
First Flight Middle School	610	615	0.8%
Manteo Elementary School	627	614	-2.1%
Manteo High School	-	505	-
Nags Head Elementary School	489	473	-3.3%
Kitty Hawk Elementary School	451	454	0.7%
Manteo Middle School	373	395	5.9%
Cape Hatteras Secondary School	353	355	0.6%
First Flight Elementary School	293	293	0%
Cape Hatteras Elementary School	297	289	-2.7%
Dare Learning Academy	20	30	50%