Photo: James Willamor · CC BY-SA 3.0

B⁺

Schools in Nags Head · Dare County Schools

Nags Head’s public schools outscore 74% of North Carolina districts

In Nags Head, 57% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Nags Head, 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

3,237 students on the public path

In brief

Nags Head’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 229 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Nags Head’s, its schools beat 90%, 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 ↓

One elementary school, then three middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. 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 Nags Head’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 (229)Better than 90%

B⁺A⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,616 test results and a graduating class of 474 could put Nags Head anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Nags Head’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 Nags Head, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Nags Head

Nags Head Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 484 students · 13:1 students per teacher

The path, start to finish

PK–5Nags Head Elementary SchoolDare County SchoolsB

6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to B⁺

9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB⁺

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

Nags Head vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Nags Head’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Nags Head	B⁺	Dare County Schools
Kill Devil Hills	B⁺	Dare County Schools

Every school in Nags Head

6 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 Nags Headby address

Nags Head Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5

484 students13:1Rate it →

Also serving Nags Headin other towns

First Flight Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Kill Devil Hills

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 →

Questions about Nags Head’s schools

Are Nags Head’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Nags Head 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 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Nags Head in?

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

Where do Nags Head 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 Nags Head’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 Nags Head spend per student?

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

Parents talk

What Nags Head families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Nags Head → 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.