Best Public Schools in Zip Code 28511

Summary:

The 28511 zip code is home to a single standout elementary school, Atlantic Elementary, which serves grades PK-5 and is part of the Carteret County Public Schools district. Despite having a relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, Atlantic Elementary consistently demonstrates exceptional academic performance, outperforming both the district and state averages in core subjects like mathematics, reading, and science.

Atlantic Elementary has been ranked among the top elementary schools in North Carolina, reaching as high as 132 out of 1,505 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. The school has maintained a 4- or 5-star rating from School Digger, indicating it is performing well above average compared to other schools in the state. This high-performing status is further supported by the school's efficient resource allocation, with a relatively high spending per student and a low student-teacher ratio of 9.6 to 1.

The data suggests that Atlantic Elementary is a standout institution within the Carteret County Public Schools district, providing a quality education to its students and consistently demonstrating academic excellence. The school's strong test scores, high rankings, and effective resource management make it an attractive option for families in the 28511 zip code area.

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)		EOG Reading (2025)		EOG Science (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th 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%)	76	306^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.5%		88.7	132^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	91.2%	174	63.6	82.4	36.4	70.6	88.2	$17,133	$1,662	$15,471

Cities Near Zip Code 28511

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Atlantic	0.77 mi	1	54^th
Smyrna	14.36 mi	1	115^th
Harkers Island	18.42 mi	1	65^th
Beaufort	18.44 mi	4	67^th
Ocracoke	25.34 mi	1

See the top NC North Carolina cities

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.