Total enrollment
4,968
-316 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Dare County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Dare County's public-school directory totals 12 campuses, with student enrollment near 4,968. Dare County Schools is the largest district. Median household income runs around $88,994. The level mix is 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Dare County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
71%
was 76%
% Hispanic
21%
was 17%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
37,875
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
1 districts
Enrollment
4,968
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$88,994
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
46.0%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
6
2,176 students
Middle
2
987 students
High
4
1,805 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Dare County Schools
4,968 students · 1 district in Dare County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dare 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+
43.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.9%
civilian labor
Median age
49
17.9% under 18
Test scores in Dare County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- First Flight High School· 75.8%
- Kitty Hawk Elementary School· 68.0%
- Manteo High School· 67.7%
- First Flight Middle School· 67.5%
- Cape Hatteras Secondary School· 61.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Manteo Elementary School· 44.6%
- Cape Hatteras Elementary School· 46.2%
- Nags Head Elementary School· 52.8%
- First Flight Elementary School· 53.1%
- Manteo Middle School· 54.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Flight High School | Kill Devil Hills | High | 09-12 | 874 | · |
| Manteo Elementary School | Manteo | Elementary | PK-05 | 636 | · |
| First Flight Middle School | Kill Devil Hills | Middle | 06-08 | 604 | · |
| Manteo High School | Manteo | High | 09-12 | 528 | · |
| Kitty Hawk Elementary School | Kitty Hawk | Elementary | PK-05 | 487 | · |
| Nags Head Elementary School | Nags Head | Elementary | PK-05 | 484 | · |
| Manteo Middle School | Manteo | Middle | 06-08 | 383 | · |
| Cape Hatteras Secondary School | Buxton | High | 06-12 | 364 | · |
| First Flight Elementary School | Kill Devil Hills | Elementary | PK-05 | 285 | · |
| Cape Hatteras Elementary School | Buxton | Elementary | PK-05 | 284 | · |
| Dare Learning Academy | Kill Devil Hills | High | 09-12 | 39 | · |
| Dare Early College | Manteo | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Dare County
About Dare County
Across the thinly populated North Carolina county of Dare County of about 37,875 residents, the public-school footprint covers 12 schools and about 4,968 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $88,994, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 41% above the North Carolina median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Dare County comprises 6 elementary schools (2,176 students), 2 middle schools (987), and 4 high schools (1,805).
The largest single district in Dare County is Dare County Schools, which alone enrolls about 4,968 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Dare County has shrank 6% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 5,284 students to 4,968. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 76% to 71% over the same window.
On this page, the community for Dare County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Dare County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data