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Cape Lookout Village Historic DistrictCape Lookout Village Historic District · Photo: Jarek Tuszyński · CC BY 3.0
B+
Schools in Harkers Island · Carteret County Schools

Harkers Island’s public schools outscore 70% of North Carolina districts

65% of students in Harkers Island’s public schools are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harkers Island, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
62%
▲ 12 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 14 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.8K
▲ 5% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.8
NC 16.0
Schools in town
1
4,826 students on the public path
In brief

Harkers Island’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 333 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Harkers Island’s, its schools beat 90%, higher than their 70% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 62% and math 65% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,751 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then five middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Harkers Island’s grade

A− Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 70% of North Carolina school districts. Test scores are above the North Carolina average; graduation is below it.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 70%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (333)Better than 90%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,165 test results and a graduating class of 710 could put Harkers Island anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Harkers Island’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,030 in math, 4,300 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Harkers Island, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Harkers Island ElementaryCarteret County SchoolsA−
6–85 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB to A
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

Harkers Island’s public schools are run by Carteret County Schools, which also serves Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Bogue and Cape Carteret and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Carteret County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 17 schools · 7,847 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 15.8 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,751NC $13,045 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading62%
State average 49.9% · 4300 students tested
Math65%
State average 50.8% · 4030 students tested

Harkers Island vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Harkers Island’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Harkers IslandB+Carteret County Schools

Every school in Harkers Island

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Harkers Islandby address
Harkers Island Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
95 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Harkers Islandin other towns
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Smyrna
B+
262 students12:1Rate it →
Broad Creek Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newport
A
722 students17:1Rate it →
Morehead City Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Morehead City
A−
506 students15:1Rate it →
Newport Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newport
B
346 students14:1Rate it →
Beaufort Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Beaufort
B
260 students12:1Rate it →
West Carteret High
High · Grades 8–12 · Morehead City
A
1,095 students23:1Rate it →
Croatan High
High · Grades 9–12 · Newport
A+
1,019 students23:1Rate it →
East Carteret High
High · Grades 9–12 · Beaufort
A
521 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Harkers Island’s schools

Are Harkers Island’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Harkers Island children attend outscore 70% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Harkers Island in?

Carteret County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,847 students in 17 schools (2024–25).

Where do Harkers Island kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: West Carteret High, Croatan High and East Carteret High.

What is Harkers Island’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Carteret County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Harkers Island spend per student?

$13,751 in Carteret County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Harkers Island families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harkers Island → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.