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First Flight Elementary School

Q: Is First Flight Elementary School a good school?

First Flight Elementary School ranks 724 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

724^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

First Flight Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Kill Devil Hills, NC, serving 285 students within Dare County Schools — a school once ranked among the state's best elementary schools but now positioned near the middle of the pack. Its statewide ranking fell from the 88th percentile in 2018–19 to the 51st percentile in 2025–26. The school has the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.0) and the highest per-pupil spending ($14,298) among nearby schools, including Kitty Hawk Elementary School, Nags Head Elementary School, and Manteo Elementary School — yet it does not consistently outperform them academically.

Academically, First Flight's biggest strength is early math: 74.5% of 3rd graders scored proficient, well above the district rate (58.2%) and the state rate (66.4%). Reading is a persistent concern, however — 3rd-grade proficiency reaches just 44.7% versus 55.6% statewide, and 5th-grade reading also trails district and state averages. Science is the weakest subject: 65.0% of 5th graders are proficient versus 76.8% in the district and 67.7% statewide, and every nearby school scored higher — including Kitty Hawk Elementary School at 87.1%, Jarvisburg Elementary at 82.2%, and Nags Head Elementary School at 81.0%. This resource-effectiveness gap is puzzling: Kitty Hawk Elementary School spends about $2,400 less per student and has larger classes, yet it has ranked in the 76th–87th percentile statewide over the past three years.

Attendance is a bright spot: the chronic absenteeism rate is 18.2%, far below the district's 32.3% and the state's 24.2%. A clear strength is special education, with those students ranking in the 77th percentile statewide, and low-income students have improved substantially in recent years. Still, there is a persistent gender gap — girls' outcomes trail boys' by a wide margin — and effectiveness varies meaningfully across other student groups. First Flight is not a failing school; it has stabilized and begun to recover. The central challenge ahead is translating strong attendance, small classes, and high per-pupil investment into more consistent proficiency in reading, science, and upper-elementary grades.

285

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

43.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

107 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

(252) 441-1111

District: Dare County Schools

Students who attend First Flight Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	First Flight Middle School
High:	First Flight High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.1%

Hispanic:

21.8%

Two or more races:

7.7%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare First Flight Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (51st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 33 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg60%

North Carolina avg61%

724^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 33 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

78^th of 246Dare County 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	50.2	724 of 1492	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.0	832 of 1490	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.7	974 of 1505	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.0	797 of 1502	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.8	730 of 1514	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.0	463 of 1489	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.7	171 of 1473	88.4%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	297 of 1434	79.3%	★★★★☆
2017	76.8	288 of 1429	79.8%	★★★★☆
2016	80.2	224 of 1425	84.3%	★★★★☆
2015	72.2	374 of 1440	74.0%	★★★★☆
2014	74.1	324 of 1390	76.7%	★★★★☆
2013	83.6	175 of 1403	87.5%	★★★★☆
2012	82.3	153 of 1388	89.0%	★★★★☆
2011	77.9	238 of 1381	82.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	221 of 1363	83.8%	★★★★☆
2009	84.3	140 of 1354	89.7%	★★★★☆
2008	78.5	211 of 1324	84.1%	★★★★☆
2007	68.0	391 of 1293	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	75.5	242 of 1276	81.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	97.8	7 of 878	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	73.0	127 of 897	85.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.2	995 of 1447	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.6	997 of 1451	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.6	975 of 1455	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.3	731 of 1459	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.1	701 of 1458	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.1	364 of 1440	74.7%	★★★★☆
2019	84.3	147 of 1424	89.7%	★★★★☆
2018	79.3	236 of 1405	83.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	65.3	118 of 612	80.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	14.3	939 of 981	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	34.3	667 of 961	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.9	680 of 951	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.5	250 of 865	71.1%	★★★★☆
2018	45.5	478 of 851	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.0	629 of 1434	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.1	713 of 1437	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.2	1181 of 1450	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	54.2	612 of 1437	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.4	559 of 1366	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.9	409 of 1329	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	92.9	28 of 1361	97.9%	★★★★★
2018	72.2	273 of 1332	79.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.3	544 of 1451	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.9	615 of 1450	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.9	868 of 1464	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	846 of 1461	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.4	731 of 1464	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.9	554 of 1444	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.6	209 of 1430	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.8	391 of 1413	72.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.9	189 of 821	77.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.1	827 of 1146	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.3	892 of 1172	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	955 of 1166	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.5	947 of 1183	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.2	958 of 1194	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.3	537 of 1172	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.5	297 of 1183	74.9%	★★★★☆
2018	60.7	474 of 1178	59.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2019)99th percentile+11 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)81st percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2025)77th percentile+33 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)31st percentile-20 vs school

White (2026)28th percentile-24 vs school

Hispanic (2026)4th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics68%+4 vs state

Science65%-3 vs state

Reading49%-7 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Sunday, November 14, 2021

Climate of bullying from top down. Close Quote

Schools Near First Flight Elementary School

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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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
First Flight Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	107 Veterans Drive	Kill Devil Hills	27948	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 441-1111	285	28	10.0	43.2%	194 (68.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (21.8%)	7 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.7%)	50.2	724^th of 1492 public elementary schools	51.5%		45	832^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	44.2%	108	74.5	60.5	67.5	44.7	53.5	50.0	65.0	$14,298	$1,105	$13,194
Nags Head Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3100 S Wrightsville Avenue	Nags Head	27959	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 480-8880	484	36	13.3	45.2%	296 (61.2%)	5 (1.0%)	137 (28.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.9%)	58.7	602^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	59.7%		62	532^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	64.3%	70	57.4	65.8	73.4	39.7	55.3	65.8	81.0	$11,095	$568	$10,527
Manteo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	701 N Hwy 64/264	Manteo	27954	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 473-2742	636	47	13.4	51.6%	391 (61.5%)	20 (3.1%)	175 (27.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.4%)	36	982^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	34.2%		35.6	988^th of 1490 public elementary schools	33.7%	6	61.3	43.1	58.9	50.5	46.1	40.0	69.5	$11,908	$794	$11,114
Kitty Hawk Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16 Dogwood Trail	Kitty Hawk	27949	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 261-2313	487	35	13.7	23.2%	423 (86.9%)	3 (0.6%)	33 (6.8%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.9%)	73.4	354^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.3%		83.3	198^th of 1490 public elementary schools	86.7%	156	64.8	70.9	72.9	54.9	74.4	64.7	87.1	$11,885	$396	$11,489
Jarvisburg Elementary	Public	K-5	110 Jarvisburg Rd	Jarvisburg	27947	Currituck County	Currituck County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 491-2050	218	15	14.8	60.6%	137 (62.8%)	9 (4.1%)	37 (17.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (15.1%)	72.3	372^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	75.1%		74.9	315^th of 1490 public elementary schools	78.9%	57	75.8	69.8	73.3	72.7	46.5	71.1	82.2	$11,958	$1,257	$10,701

Frequently Asked Questions about First Flight Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of First Flight Elementary School?

Students at First Flight Elementary School are 68% White, 22% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of First Flight Elementary School attend?

Students who attend First Flight Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : First Flight Middle School
High : First Flight High School

Is First Flight Elementary School a good school?

First Flight Elementary School ranks 724^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend First Flight Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 285 students attended First Flight Elementary School.

What district is First Flight Elementary School in?

Dare County Schools

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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.