City: Outer Banks, NC

Category: Education

Telephone: (252) 473-1151

Description: More than 4,700 elementary and secondary students from Corolla to Hatteras Island attend one of the 11 Dare County schools—5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 combination middle and high school, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative high school. As the population of year-round residents grows, the Dare County Board of Education searches for new ways to meet the demands of more students. With almost every one of the current schools at, near, or over capacity, the biggest goal is more space. But for all the concerns over raising enough funds and providing better classrooms, Dare County offers children a quality education. It is one of the top-scoring districts statewide. Despite the area’s remoteness and distance from cultural and educational hubs, schools here have measured up exceedingly well. Dare County schools have consistently ranked in the top five on student achievement among school systems statewide. The district, one of the first to connect to the state’s web system in 1994, provides computers in every classroom, Internet access for students, and a commitment to technological advancement. Each school has an interactive room with audio and visual equipment.Dare County schools open before Labor Day and close early in June. All elementary schools have after-school day care available until 6 p.m. For more information about the Dare County schools, contact the Dare County Board of Education at (252) 473-1151.