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Morehead CityPhoto: Bz3rk · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Morehead City · Carteret County Schools

Morehead City’s public schools outscore 70% of North Carolina districts

65% of students in Morehead City’s public schools are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Morehead City, 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.

#41of 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
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
7
2,356 students on the public path
In brief

Morehead City’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 324 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Morehead City’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 one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Morehead City Middle, then West Carteret High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Egbert Catholic School (private), A Sea of Learning (private) and Chosen Generation Christ. 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 Morehead City’s grade

A− Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 70% of North Carolina school districts, #41 of 290 North Carolina towns. 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 (324)Better than 90%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,165 test results and a graduating class of 710 could put Morehead City anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Morehead City’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 Morehead City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–3Morehead City PrimaryCarteret County SchoolsA−
6–8Morehead City MiddleCarteret County SchoolsA−
9–12West Carteret HighCarteret County SchoolsA

Morehead City’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

Morehead City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Morehead City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Morehead CityB+Carteret County Schools
BeaufortB+Carteret County Schools

Every school in Morehead City

7 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 Morehead Cityby address
Morehead City Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–3
A−
502 students12:1Rate it →
Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn
Elementary · Grades 4–5
B+
253 students14:1Rate it →
Morehead City Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
506 students15:1Rate it →
West Carteret High
High · Grades 8–12
A
1,095 students23:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Egbert Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
112 students11:1Rate it →
A Sea of Learning
Elementary · Grades K–7
Private · Religious
103 students11:1Rate it →
Chosen Generation Christ. Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
38 students8:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Bridges School).

Questions about Morehead City’s schools

Are Morehead City’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Morehead City children attend outscore 70% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #41 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Morehead City in?

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

Where do Morehead City kids go to high school?

West Carteret High, with 1,095 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Morehead City’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 Morehead City spend per student?

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

Are there private schools in Morehead City?

Yes: St. Egbert Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 112 students), A Sea of Learning (religious, grades K–7, 103 students) and Chosen Generation Christ. Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 38 students).

Parents talk

What Morehead City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Morehead City → 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.