Outer Banks Times

There were 4,920 students enrolled in Dare County Schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.4% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Dare County Schools roughly covers 11 schools within Dare County and has a main office in Nags Head.

Among the 11 schools in Dare County Schools, First Flight High School recorded the highest enrollment of 897 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
First Flight High School	897
First Flight Middle School	615
Manteo Elementary School	614
Manteo High School	505
Nags Head Elementary School	473
Kitty Hawk Elementary School	454
Manteo Middle School	395
Cape Hatteras Secondary School	355
First Flight Elementary School	293
Cape Hatteras Elementary School	289
Dare Learning Academy	30