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Harkers Island Elementary

Q: Is Harkers Island Elementary a good school?

Harkers Island Elementary ranks 473 rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

473^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Harkers Island Elementary is a very small K–5 public school on Harkers Island in Carteret County, NC, serving just 95 students, nearly all of whom (96.84%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is part of Carteret County Public Schools, a district ranked 31st of 246 districts in North Carolina with a 4-star rating. Harkers Island Elementary itself has a strong but fluctuating record: it earned 5 stars and ranked in the top 8% of elementary schools statewide in 2018–2019, but its most recent 2025–2026 ranking places it at the 68th percentile with 3 stars—still above the state median.

Chronic absenteeism is the school's most pressing challenge. At 24.7% in 2024–2025, it is the highest among nearby schools, surpassing Atlantic Elementary (11.5%), Beaufort Elementary (13.4%), and the district rate of 18.7%. Academic results are uneven. Third-grade reading reached 92.3% proficiency in 2024–2025—more than 37 points above the district—but fell to 61.1% the next year. Fifth-grade science has consistently exceeded the state average, often by wide margins. Fifth-grade math has been a weaker spot, trailing the district by roughly 9 to 19 points in three of the past four years.

Because grade-level cohorts are so small—often around 15 to 20 students—a swing of just a few students can shift proficiency rates by 15 to 20 points. That volatility explains much of the school's year-to-year ranking movement rather than a change in quality. Historically, low-income students have been served very well here, ranking in the 99th percentile statewide in 2018–2019. Compared with Atlantic Elementary, which has a lower student-teacher ratio (9.4 vs. 13.1) and higher per-pupil spending, Harkers Island operates with more modest resources. The clearest levers for improvement are reducing chronic absenteeism and stabilizing upper-elementary reading and math performance.

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

96.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1163 Island Rd
Harkers Island, NC 28531-9669

(252) 728-3755

District: Carteret County Public Schools

Students who attend Harkers Island Elementary usually attend:

High:

East Carteret High

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.7%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

3.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Harkers Island Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 92nd percentile in 2019 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 92nd-percentile peak (2019) to 68th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg71%

North Carolina avg61%

473^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 12 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

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	66.7	473 of 1492	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.7	335 of 1490	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	407 of 1505	73.0%	★★★★☆
2023	73.6	352 of 1502	76.6%	★★★★☆
2022	75.5	320 of 1514	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	85.3	180 of 1489	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	88.0	114 of 1473	92.3%	★★★★★
2018	71.6	372 of 1434	74.1%	★★★★☆
2017	72.5	363 of 1429	74.6%	★★★★☆
2016	56.3	616 of 1425	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	82.5	194 of 1440	86.5%	★★★★☆
2014	63.3	491 of 1390	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.5	480 of 1403	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	83.7	129 of 1388	90.7%	★★★★★
2011	85.5	120 of 1381	91.3%	★★★★★
2010	87.2	83 of 1363	93.9%	★★★★★
2009	89.2	61 of 1354	95.5%	★★★★★
2008	81.5	158 of 1324	88.1%	★★★★☆
2007	79.9	175 of 1293	86.5%	★★★★☆
2006	89.1	55 of 1276	95.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	79.2	229 of 1447	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	78.0	241 of 1455	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	61.9	521 of 1459	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.0	515 of 1458	64.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	67.1	365 of 1450	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	75.5	230 of 1437	84.0%	★★★★☆
2019	96.2	9 of 1361	99.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	47.2	797 of 1464	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	69.4	385 of 1461	73.6%	★★★★☆
2022	77.7	268 of 1464	81.7%	★★★★☆
2021	84.8	171 of 1444	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	65.2	467 of 1413	66.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	671 of 1146	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.8	555 of 1172	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.5	634 of 1166	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.1	653 of 1183	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.3	611 of 1194	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.7	312 of 1172	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	77.7	209 of 1183	82.3%	★★★★☆
2018	48.2	661 of 1178	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)84th percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)75th percentile~ school

Male (2024)46th percentile-27 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science78%+10 vs state

Reading65%+9 vs state

Mathematics65%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Harkers Island 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
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
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
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
Beaufort Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Carraway Dr	Beaufort	28516	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 728-3316	346	27	12.7	99.1%	236 (68.2%)	41 (11.8%)	27 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (11.8%)	56.8	629^th of 1492 public elementary schools	57.8%		77.1	293^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	80.3%	336	59.3	61.9	74.1				54.2	47.6	65.5				70.7		$11,123	$1,431	$9,692
Morehead Elementary at Camp Glenn	Public	4-5	3316 Arendell St	Morehead City	28557	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 726-1131	253	19	13.6	97.6%	168 (66.4%)	15 (5.9%)	44 (17.4%)	5 (2.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.9%)	75.2	316^th of 1492 public elementary schools	78.8%		61	548^th of 1490 public elementary schools	63.2%	232		70.4	72.0					69.6	66.9				73.7		$10,861	$1,127	$9,734
Morehead City Primary	Public	PK, KG-3	4409 Country Club Rd	Morehead City	28557	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 247-2448	502	42	11.9	98.4%	341 (67.9%)	30 (6.0%)	79 (15.7%)	9 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (8.4%)								(n/a)	69.7						68.0								$10,820	$1,016	$9,804
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
Newport Elementary	Public	K-5	219 Chatham St	Newport	28570	Carteret County	Carteret County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 223-4201	621	49	12.7	99.5%	437 (70.4%)	39 (6.3%)	68 (11.0%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.6%)	4 (0.6%)	67 (10.8%)	62.4	543^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	63.6%		62.2	529^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.5%	14	62.5	66.4	64.3				60.2	59.1	59.8				77.7		$10,259	$1,539	$8,720

Frequently Asked Questions about Harkers Island Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Harkers Island Elementary?

Students at Harkers Island Elementary are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Harkers Island Elementary a good school?

Harkers Island Elementary ranks 473^rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Harkers Island Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 95 students attended Harkers Island Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Harkers Island Elementary attend?

Students who attend Harkers Island Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : East Carteret High

What district is Harkers Island Elementary in?

Carteret County Public Schools

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Schools in Harkers Island, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.