Total enrollment
27,501
+661 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
Onslow County
North Carolina · Public K-12
42 public K-12 schools operate inside Onslow County, with roughly 27,501 students enrolled, an average of 655 per campus. By grade band, the county runs 24 elementary, 8 middle, and 8 high schools.
7-year change in Onslow County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
40
+3 (+8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
54%
was 56%
% Hispanic
18%
was 15%
% Black
16%
was 19%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
42
2 districts
Enrollment
27,501
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,148
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
50.9%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
24
12,766 students
Middle
8
6,218 students
High
8
8,096 students
Combined / other
2
421 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Onslow County Schools
27,397 students · 2 districts in Onslow County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Onslow 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+
26.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
28
24.8% under 18
Test scores in Onslow County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 38 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Dixon High· 70.4%
- Swansboro High· 70.4%
- Coastal Elementary· 69.8%
- New Bridge Middle· 66.3%
- Carolina Forest Elementary· 65.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Blue Creek Elementary· 43.1%
- Jacksonville Commons Elem· 44.1%
- Jacksonville Commons Middle· 45.7%
- White Oak High· 46.3%
- Clyde Erwin Elementary· 47.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 1,441 | · |
| White Oak High | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 1,252 | · |
| Swansboro High | Swansboro | High | 09-12 | 1,232 | · |
| Dixon High | Holly Ridge | High | 09-12 | 1,085 | · |
| Northside High | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 1,067 | · |
| Swansboro Middle | Swansboro | Middle | 06-08 | 1,052 | · |
| Richlands High | Richlands | High | 09-12 | 1,027 | · |
| Dixon Middle | Sneads Ferry | Middle | 06-08 | 997 | · |
| Jacksonville Commons Middle | Jacksonville | Middle | 06-08 | 918 | · |
| Hunters Creek Middle | Jacksonville | Middle | 06-08 | 856 | · |
| Coastal Elementary | Holly Ridge | Elementary | KG-05 | 833 | · |
| Southwest High | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 803 | · |
| Trexler Middle | Richlands | Middle | 06-08 | 770 | · |
| Dixon Elementary | Holly Ridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 760 | · |
| Southwest Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-05 | 720 | · |
| Morton Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-05 | 715 | · |
| Queens Creek Elementary | Swansboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 706 | · |
| Silverdale Elementary | Maysville | Elementary | KG-05 | 648 | · |
| Northwoods Park Middle | Jacksonville | Middle | 06-08 | 633 | · |
| Swansboro Elementary | Swansboro | Elementary | KG-05 | 592 | · |
| Richlands Elementary | Richlands | Elementary | KG-05 | 591 | · |
| Hunters Creek Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-05 | 585 | · |
| Stateside Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 579 | · |
| Carolina Forest Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 570 | · |
| Heritage Elementary School | Richlands | Elementary | KG-05 | 565 | · |
| Bell Fork Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 551 | · |
| Clear View Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 535 | · |
| Sand Ridge Elementary | Hubert | Elementary | KG-05 | 527 | · |
| Meadow View Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 520 | · |
| Southwest Middle | Jacksonville | Middle | 06-08 | 510 | · |
| Jacksonville Commons Elem | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 506 | · |
| Blue Creek Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 498 | · |
| New Bridge Middle | Jacksonville | Middle | 06-08 | 482 | · |
| Summersill Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-05 | 482 | · |
| Parkwood Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 457 | · |
| Northwoods Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 439 | · |
| Onslow Virtual School | Jacksonville | Combined | 01-12 | 421 | · |
| Clyde Erwin Elementary | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 283 | · |
| Onslow Early College | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 189 | · |
| Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology | Jacksonville | Elementary | KG-08 | 104 | · |
| Onslow Virtual Elementary | Jacksonville | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Woodland Elementary School | Maysville | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Onslow County
About Onslow County
In North Carolina, Onslow County is a middle-population county of about 207,906 residents. 42 public schools across the county instructs about 27,501 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $68,148 a year, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% noticeably above the North Carolina median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Onslow County is made up of 24 elementary schools (12,766 students), 8 middle schools (6,218), 8 high schools (8,096), and 2 combined or other schools.
Onslow County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 27,397 students across Onslow County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 27,501 students, held roughly steady from the 26,840 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Onslow County opened 3 schools, going from 37 to 40. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment climbed from 15% to 18%.
On allk12, the community for Onslow County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Onslow County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data