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Atlantic Elementary

Q: Is Atlantic Elementary a good school?

Atlantic Elementary ranks 395 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

395^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 74% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Atlantic Elementary is a very small, rural public school in Atlantic, North Carolina, serving 88 students in Pre-K through 5th grade as part of Carteret County Public Schools. It stands out for its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 9.4 to 1 and high per-pupil spending of about $17,133, well above nearby Harkers Island Elementary and Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary. Chronic absenteeism has also improved dramatically, falling to 11.5% in 2024-25, far below district and state averages.

Academically, Atlantic’s greatest strengths lie in upper-elementary math and science. In the most recent school year, 5th graders reached 90% proficiency in both subjects, outperforming district and state averages as well as nearby schools like Tiller School. The school is also notable for its success with students from low-income families, ranking in the 99th percentile statewide for that subgroup in recent years. Since roughly 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, this record highlights the benefits of small classes and strong support for learners who might otherwise face achievement gaps.

Reading proficiency is more uneven, especially in early grades. Third-grade reading, for instance, dipped to 36.4% in 2024-25, trailing district and state averages. Because the school is so small, results can swing sharply from year to year as individual grade cohorts change. Overall state rankings have ranged from the 74th to 95th percentile over the past several years, with the most recent year at the lower end of that range. Still, Atlantic compares well with nearby schools in several key subjects, and its improved attendance and standout outcomes for disadvantaged students make it a compelling choice for families looking for a close-knit, supportive elementary experience.

Students ?

9.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

95.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

151 School Dr
Atlantic, NC 28511

(252) 225-3961

District: Carteret County Public Schools

Students who attend Atlantic Elementary usually attend:

High:

East Carteret High

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.2%

Hispanic:

4.5%

Two or more races:

2.3%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 74th percentile in 2016 → 74th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (71% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (74th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg71%

North Carolina avg61%

395^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 26%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^st of 246Carteret County Public Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	395 of 1492	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	76.0	306 of 1490	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	88.7	132 of 1505	91.2%	★★★★★
2023	81.5	211 of 1502	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	79.5	251 of 1514	83.4%	★★★★☆
2021	93.4	76 of 1489	94.9%	★★★★★
2019	71.6	378 of 1473	74.3%	★★★★☆
2018	72.0	364 of 1434	74.6%	★★★★☆
2017	81.8	195 of 1429	86.4%	★★★★☆
2016	71.8	364 of 1425	74.5%	★★★★☆
2015	73.5	352 of 1440	75.6%	★★★★☆
2014	69.6	401 of 1390	71.2%	★★★★☆
2013	67.6	404 of 1403	71.2%	★★★★☆
2012	76.1	275 of 1388	80.2%	★★★★☆
2011	78.0	236 of 1381	82.9%	★★★★☆
2010	71.2	374 of 1363	72.6%	★★★★☆
2009	76.4	271 of 1354	80.0%	★★★★☆
2008	78.6	209 of 1324	84.2%	★★★★☆
2007	75.6	246 of 1293	81.0%	★★★★☆
2006	66.3	408 of 1276	68.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	96.3	18 of 1450	98.8%	★★★★★
2019	94.8	15 of 1361	98.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	76.9	257 of 1413	81.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.4	792 of 1146	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.9	416 of 1172	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	81.1	179 of 1166	84.6%	★★★★☆
2023	61.6	437 of 1183	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.5	515 of 1194	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	76.1	237 of 1172	79.8%	★★★★☆
2019	60.9	450 of 1183	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.7	526 of 1178	55.3%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)99th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2018)82nd percentile+7 vs school

White (2026)31st percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science90%+22 vs state

Mathematics71%+7 vs state

Reading65%+8 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, September 19, 2021

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Schools Near Atlantic Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Atlantic Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	151 School Dr	Atlantic	28511	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 225-3961	88	9	9.4	95.5%	82 (93.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.3%)	71.1	395^th of 1492 public elementary schools	73.5%		76	306^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.5%	89	57.1	70.0	90.0				64.3	60.0	70.0				90.0		$17,133	$1,662	$15,471
Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	174 Marshallberg Rd	Smyrna	28579	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 729-2301	262	22	11.9	98.9%	247 (94.3%)	2 (0.8%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	63.6	525^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.8%		71.2	371^st of 1490 public elementary schools	75.1%	154	87.5	83.3	73.7	51.0	51.8	67.3	56.3	66.7	68.4	57.1	62.5	73.5	73.7	73.5	$11,100	$1,229	$9,871
Harkers Island Elementary	Public	K-5	1163 Island Rd	Harkers Island	28531	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 728-3755	95	7	13.1	96.8%	89 (93.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.2%)	66.7	473^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	68.3%		73.7	335^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.5%	138	72.2	68.8	55.6				61.1	81.3	55.6				77.8		$13,268	$1,408	$11,860
Tiller School	Public, Charter	K-5	1950 Live Oak Street	Beaufort	28516	Carteret County	Tiller School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(252) 728-1995	206	18	11.4		159 (77.2%)	6 (2.9%)	20 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.7%)	74	340^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.2%		77.2	290^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.5%	50	78.1	56.7	83.3				62.5	73.3	73.3				70.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Atlantic Elementary

What district is Atlantic Elementary in?

Carteret County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Atlantic Elementary?

Students at Atlantic Elementary are 93% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Atlantic Elementary attend?

Students who attend Atlantic Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : East Carteret High

How many students attend Atlantic Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 88 students attended Atlantic Elementary.

Is Atlantic Elementary a good school?

Atlantic Elementary ranks 395^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Atlantic Elementary!

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Schools in Atlantic, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.