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Kitty Hawk Life-Saving StationKitty Hawk Life-Saving Station · Photo: Jasonspsyche · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Kitty Hawk · Dare County Schools

Kitty Hawk’s public schools outscore 74% of North Carolina districts

Reading proficiency in Kitty Hawk’s districts is 57%, above the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Kitty Hawk, 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.

#33of 290 North Carolina townsK–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
57%
▲ 7 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
57%
▲ 6 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.1K
▲ 16% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.4
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
4,929 students on the public path
In brief

Kitty Hawk’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 215 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Kitty Hawk’s, its schools beat 89%, higher than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 57% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,072 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then three middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Heron Pond Montessori School (private) and Beacon Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Kitty Hawk’s grade

B+ Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 74% of North Carolina school districts, #33 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (215)Better than 89%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,616 test results and a graduating class of 474 could put Kitty Hawk anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Kitty Hawk’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,500 in math, 2,732 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to A−
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+

Kitty Hawk’s public schools are run by Dare County Schools, which also serves Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Manteo and Nags Head 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.

Dare County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 11 schools · 4,968 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 14.4 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$15,072NC $13,045 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading57%
State average 49.9% · 2732 students tested
Math57%
State average 50.8% · 2500 students tested

Kitty Hawk vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Kitty Hawk’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Kitty HawkB+Dare County Schools
Southern ShoresB+Dare County Schools
Kill Devil HillsB+Dare County Schools

All 2 neighbors share Dare County Schools with Kitty Hawk, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Kitty Hawk

12 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).

Also serving Kitty Hawkin other towns
Manteo Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Manteo
C
636 students13:1Rate it →
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
487 students14:1Rate it →
Nags Head Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Nags Head
B
484 students13:1Rate it →
First Flight Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Kill Devil Hills
B
285 students10:1Rate it →
Cape Hatteras Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Buxton
C
284 students12:1Rate it →
First Flight Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Kill Devil Hills
B
604 students13:1Rate it →
Manteo Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Manteo
B−
383 students12:1Rate it →
Cape Hatteras Secondary School
High · Grades 6–12 · Buxton
B+
364 students16:1Rate it →
First Flight High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Kill Devil Hills
B+
874 students20:1Rate it →
Manteo High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Manteo
B+
528 students19:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Heron Pond Montessori School
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
88 students11:1Rate it →
Beacon Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–4
Private · Religious
50 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Kitty Hawk’s schools

Are Kitty Hawk’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Kitty Hawk children attend outscore 74% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #33 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Kitty Hawk in?

Dare County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,968 students in 11 schools (2024–25).

Where do Kitty Hawk kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: First Flight High School, Manteo High School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School.

What is Kitty Hawk’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Dare County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Kitty Hawk spend per student?

$15,072 in Dare County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Kitty Hawk?

Yes: Heron Pond Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 88 students) and Beacon Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–4, 50 students).

Parents talk

What Kitty Hawk families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Kitty Hawk → 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.