Outer Banks Times

There were 7,814 students enrolled in Carteret County Public Schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.2% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Carteret County Public Schools roughly covers 17 schools within Carteret County and has a main office in Beaufort.

Among the 17 schools in Carteret County Public Schools, West Carteret High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,059 students in the 2023-24 school year.

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
West Carteret High School	1,059
Croatan High School	965
White Oak Elementary School	754
Broad Creek Middle School	742
Newport Elementary School	625
Morehead City Middle School	526
East Carteret High School	521
Morehead City Primary School	512
Bogue Sound Elementary School	439
Newport Middle School	375
Beaufort Elementary School	353
Beaufort Middle School	256
Morehead Elementary at Camp Glenn	254
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary School	233
Harkers Island Elementary School	112
Atlantic Elementary School	76
Bridges School	12