Total enrollment
6,030
-453 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
Beaufort County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Parents in Beaufort County researching K-12 options have 15 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 6,030 (7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high).
4-year change in Beaufort County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
-1 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Beaufort County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 53.4% | #40 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,030 | #57 of 98 | #1,162 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #57 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.2:1 | #59 of 98 | #2,113 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.2% | #7 of 98 | #78 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 67.0% | #28 of 94 | #237 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Beaufort County school rankings
Residents
44,499
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
2 districts
Enrollment
6,030
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$58,357
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.2%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
7
2,712 students
Middle
2
1,025 students
High
4
1,864 students
Combined / other
2
429 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Beaufort County Schools
5,601 students · 2 districts in Beaufort County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Beaufort County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
21.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
48
19.1% under 18
Test scores in Beaufort County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Beaufort Co Early College High· 92.8%
- Chocowinity Primary· 82.2%
- Bath Elementary· 70.0%
- Northside High· 58.3%
- Chocowinity Middle· 54.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- John Small Elementary· 40.8%
- P S Jones Middle· 42.4%
- John C Tayloe Elementary· 44.4%
- Washington High· 46.7%
- S W Snowden Elementary· 48.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High | Washington | High | 09-12 | 794 | · |
| P S Jones Middle | Washington | Middle | 06-08 | 659 | · |
| Bath Elementary | Bath | Elementary | KG-08 | 511 | · |
| Chocowinity Primary | Chocowinity | Elementary | PK-04 | 484 | · |
| Eastern Elementary | Washington | Elementary | PK-01 | 484 | · |
| Washington Montessori | Washington | Combined | KG-12 | 429 | · |
| Southside High | Chocowinity | High | 09-12 | 410 | · |
| John C Tayloe Elementary | Washington | Elementary | 02-03 | 382 | · |
| Northside High | Pinetown | High | 09-12 | 380 | · |
| John Small Elementary | Washington | Elementary | 04-05 | 379 | · |
| Chocowinity Middle | Chocowinity | Middle | 05-08 | 366 | · |
| Northeast Elementary | Pinetown | Elementary | PK-08 | 355 | · |
| Beaufort Co Early College High | Washington | High | 09-13 | 280 | · |
| S W Snowden Elementary | Aurora | Elementary | PK-08 | 117 | · |
| B C Ed Tech Center | Chocowinity | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Beaufort County
About Beaufort County
Across the thinly populated North Carolina county of Beaufort County of about 44,499 residents, the public-school footprint covers 15 schools and about 6,030 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $58,357, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% lower than the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Beaufort County covers 7 elementary schools (2,712 students), 2 middle schools (1,025), 4 high schools (1,864), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Beaufort County is Beaufort County Schools, which alone enrolls about 5,601 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,030 students, shrank 7% from the 6,483 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count fell from 15 to 14 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Beaufort County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data