Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its North Carolina rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

First Flight High School

Q: Is First Flight High School a good school?

First Flight High School ranks 125 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

125^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 81% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

First Flight High School serves 874 students in grades 9–12 in Kill Devil Hills, NC, located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and is part of Dare County Schools. The school earns a 4-star state rating and ranks 125th out of 662 North Carolina high schools, placing it in the 81st percentile and making it the highest-ranked traditional high school in Dare County. That puts it well ahead of nearby Manteo High School, which ranks in the 57th percentile.

First Flight High School substantially outpaces Manteo High School in almost every End-of-Course subject. Biology proficiency is 86.0% versus 54.7%, Math I proficiency is 72.7% versus 39.1%, English II proficiency is 84.4% versus 71.1%, and Math III proficiency is 86.8% versus 82.9%. The school’s proficiency rates also beat state averages by wide margins — for example, Math I proficiency nearly doubles the statewide rate. The graduation rate stands at 94.8%, above the district’s 92.6% and the state’s 86.5%. First Flight educates a smaller share of economically disadvantaged students (27.2% free/reduced lunch) than Manteo (40.3%) or Dare Learning Academy (92.3%), and it produces these strong outcomes while spending less per student than either peer school.

The school’s most distinctive strengths show up in its subgroup results. First Flight ranks in the 99th percentile statewide for special education students, the 96th for gifted students, the 86th for English language learners, and the 84th for low-income students — evidence that its success spans many different types of learners. Test scores have climbed sharply in recent years, with Biology proficiency rising from 55.3% to 86.0% and English II from 65.6% to 84.4%. The main areas for parents to watch are chronic absenteeism (33.8% in 2024-2025 versus 24.2% statewide), the student-teacher ratio jumping from 15.5 to 20.0 in one year, and a subgroup percentile for Hispanic students that is above average but lower than the school’s overall rank. Even with these concerns, First Flight’s high achievement, strong graduation rate, and recent upward trajectory position it as one of the top-performing high schools on the Outer Banks.

874

Students ?

20.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

27.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Veterans Drive
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

(252) 449-7000

District: Dare County Schools

Feeder schools for First Flight High School:

Elementary:	First Flight Elementary School
	Kitty Hawk Elementary School
Middle:	First Flight Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.3%

Hispanic:

12.9%

Two or more races:

5.3%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare First Flight High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 85th percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (83% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of North Carolina high schools

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (86%)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 24% North Carolina)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school83%

District avg73%

North Carolina avg60%

125^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 19%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High 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	82.8	125 of 662	81.1%	★★★★☆
2025	82.7	122 of 641	81.0%	★★★★☆
2024	76.0	151 of 640	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	67.3	184 of 626	70.6%	★★★★☆
2022	60.4	232 of 621	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.4	258 of 594	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.9	103 of 514	80.0%	★★★★☆
2018	79.4	59 of 469	87.4%	★★★★☆
2017	72.8	71 of 476	85.1%	★★★★☆
2016	68.8	74 of 507	85.4%	★★★★☆
2015	67.7	86 of 531	83.8%	★★★★☆
2014	80.2	35 of 451	92.2%	★★★★★
2013	69.7	43 of 505	91.5%	★★★★★
2012	65.8	96 of 502	80.9%	★★★★☆
2011	71.3	76 of 506	85.0%	★★★★☆
2010	70.2	75 of 499	85.0%	★★★★☆
2009	71.1	63 of 490	87.1%	★★★★☆
2008	74.3	48 of 477	89.9%	★★★★★
2007	72.9	56 of 453	87.6%	★★★★☆
2006	77.2	33 of 431	92.3%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	66.8	55 of 330	83.3%	★★★★☆
2021	38.6	187 of 334	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	84.6	18 of 364	95.1%	★★★★★
2018	83.7	32 of 349	90.8%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.5	41 of 289	85.8%	★★★★☆
2025	85.7	15 of 273	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	42.1	127 of 262	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.5	70 of 226	69.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.0	104 of 629	83.5%	★★★★☆
2025	85.1	101 of 610	83.4%	★★★★☆
2024	77.7	142 of 602	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	69.9	164 of 588	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.1	185 of 594	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.8	181 of 475	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.9	110 of 475	76.8%	★★★★☆
2018	74.9	81 of 449	82.0%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.4	16 of 407	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	76.5	88 of 412	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	69.1	121 of 403	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	190 of 403	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.0	81 of 398	79.6%	★★★★☆
2021	58.7	162 of 337	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.6	71 of 325	78.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.1	153 of 474	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.7	134 of 462	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	59.6	136 of 454	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	47.9	200 of 449	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.2	120 of 436	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	18.8	322 of 370	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.8	151 of 354	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.7	173 of 340	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.5	98 of 620	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.2	124 of 606	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	66.5	165 of 613	73.1%	★★★★☆
2023	60.6	183 of 597	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	215 of 544	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.6	74 of 432	82.9%	★★★★☆
2019	55.0	107 of 446	76.0%	★★★★☆
2018	72.2	54 of 424	87.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.3	132 of 624	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	79.2	137 of 601	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	73.7	154 of 607	74.6%	★★★★☆
2023	63.9	193 of 602	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	240 of 585	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.9	169 of 481	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.8	83 of 488	83.0%	★★★★☆
2018	82.1	52 of 463	88.8%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.3	25 of 53	52.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	65.7	71 of 253	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	70.4	61 of 261	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	62.2	76 of 249	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.0	60 of 226	73.5%	★★★★☆
2021	64.1	63 of 199	68.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	99.3	5 of 372	98.7%	★★★★★
2025	80.3	29 of 352	91.8%	★★★★★
2024	73.5	43 of 349	87.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	79.7	109 of 551	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	80.0	113 of 542	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	69.9	173 of 553	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.5	217 of 537	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.2	279 of 534	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.8	210 of 439	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.5	140 of 444	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.7	87 of 427	79.6%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2026)99th percentile+18 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)96th percentile+15 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)86th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)84th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)83rd percentile+21 vs school

White (2026)80th percentile~ school

Male (2026)79th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)72nd percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2025)53rd percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III87%+18 vs state

Biology86%+27 vs state

English II84%+20 vs state

Math I73%+31 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate First Flight High School and help other families decide.

Rate First Flight High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near First Flight High School

Load more schools when map is moved

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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
First Flight High School	Public	9-12	100 Veterans Drive	Kill Devil Hills	27948	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 449-7000	874	44	20.0	27.2%	702 (80.3%)	4 (0.5%)	113 (12.9%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.3%)	82.8	125^th of 662 public high schools	81.1%		82.7	122^nd of 641 public high schools	81.0%	3	86.0	84.4	72.7	86.8	$10,945	$573	$10,372
Dare Learning Academy	Public	9-12	100 Veterans Drive	Kill Devil Hills	27948	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 480-8888	39	2	25.0	92.3%	29 (74.4%)	2 (5.1%)	4 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (10.3%)								(n/a)	337.5	540.1	537.5	539.9	$20,105	$451	$19,654
Manteo High School	Public	9-12	829 Wingina Avenue	Manteo	27954	Dare County	Dare County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 473-5841	528	28	18.6	40.3%	333 (63.1%)	17 (3.2%)	147 (27.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.7%)	55.6	282^nd of 662 public high schools	57.4%		63.9	206^th of 641 public high schools	67.9%	76	54.7	71.1	39.1	82.9	$12,230	$507	$11,723

Frequently Asked Questions about First Flight High School

What is the racial makeup of First Flight High School?

Students at First Flight High School are 80% White, 13% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is First Flight High School in?

Dare County Schools

Is First Flight High School a good school?

First Flight High School ranks 125^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend First Flight High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 874 students attended First Flight High School.

What schools feed into First Flight High School?

First Flight High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : First Flight Elementary School
Elementary : Kitty Hawk Elementary School
Middle : First Flight Middle School

Rate First Flight High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina High School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for First Flight High School!

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.