Dare County Schools Celebrates Extraordinary Districtwide Growth and Academic Progress for 2025-26: Two Schools Earn A Grades for the First Time in District History, All Schools Met or Exceeded Growth

Dare County Schools students demonstrated tremendous academic growth and progress during the 2025-26 school year.

For the first time in district history, two Dare County Schools earned a School Performance Grade of A. Two additional schools finished within two points of earning an A, for a total of four schools earning a School Performance Grade of B.

The district's only school previously identified as low-performing also made significant progress, increasing its School Performance Grade by seven points. The school improved from a D to a C, joining five other schools in the district with a C grade.

The 2025-26 school report data is released annually following review and approval by the North Carolina State Board of Education on September 2.

Additional noteworthy achievements include:

• All state-reporting schools met or exceeded expected academic growth.
• Districtwide grade-level proficiency increased, including the percentage of students achieving Levels 3, 4 and 5.
• College and career readiness increased, with more students achieving Levels 4 and 5.
• Several schools achieved their highest performance levels in recent years.

Districtwide Growth Reaches New Heights

All Dare County Schools met or exceeded expected growth during the 2025-26 school year with the exception of Dare Learning Academy, which does not receive a state growth score. The district's combined average growth score was 84.8%.

Growth is measured using the Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS), which considers a student's current test performance in relation to the student's prior test history and the progress of students across the state with similar academic backgrounds.

Overall grade-level proficiency is determined by students scoring a Level 3, 4 or 5 on state End-of-Grade (EOG) or End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. 75% percent of schools in the district increased their individual proficiency scores.

Dare County Schools also recorded a 96.4% four-year cohort graduation rate, the highest in district history. Dare County Schools' Career and Technical Education (CTE) credential attainment rate reached 87.8%, also a district high-allowing students to earn industry-recognized certifications and credentials before graduating high school.

School Performance Grades Show Gains Overall

North Carolina school performance grades are based on 80% achievement on EOG and EOC assessments and 20% growth. Grades are assigned using the following scale: A, 85-100; B, 70-84; C, 55-69; D, 40-54; and F, less than 40.

A Schools

• Dare Early College - Inaugural year
• First Flight High School - Increased its performance grade by 4 points

B Schools

• Dare Learning Academy - Increased by 5 points
• First Flight Middle School - Increased by 2+ points
• Manteo High School - Increased by 2+ points
• Kitty Hawk Elementary School - Decreased by 2 points

C Schools

• First Flight Elementary School - Increased by 7 points
• Manteo Elementary School - Increased by 7 points
• Cape Hatteras Elementary School - Maintained its score
• Nags Head Elementary School - Maintained its score
• Cape Hatteras Secondary School - Maintained its score
• Manteo Middle School - Decreased by 3 points

Elementary School Progress

Increasing proficiency and growth at the elementary level was a district focus in 2025-2026. Overall, our elementary schools made significant strides.

First Flight Elementary School achieved an all-time high growth score and increased its overall math score by 15 points. The school, which was identified as low-performing in 2023-24, has focused on identifying barriers to learning and supporting student achievement. The results show the impact of school's commitment to targeted and purposeful instruction.

Manteo Elementary School exited low-performing status, and the school's overall growth score increased by 18.8 points. Third-grade math scores increased by 13 points, the school's highest score in 8 years.

Cape Hatteras Elementary, Kitty Hawk Elementary and Nags Head Elementary continued to demonstrate consistent academic progress, maintaining performance levels comparable to the previous academic year while meeting or exceeding expected growth.

Middle Schools Show Growth in Key Subject Areas

First Flight Middle School increased its overall school performance grade by 2 points with a one year growth index of 8.29, the highest growth index in the district this year.

Manteo Middle School's Grade 8 reading scores increased by 10.4 points and Grade 8 Science by 5.9 points.

Cape Hatteras Secondary School's Grade 8 math scores increased by 6.7 points and Grade 6 reading by 5.6 points.

High Schools Reach New Heights in Achievement and Graduation

Dare County School's secondary schools increased End-of-Course averages this year by almost 6 points to 73.1%.

Cape Hatteras Secondary School increased its Math I score by 54.9 points and its Biology score by 11.4 points with additional increases in Math III and 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate.

Dare Early College earned a 95 school performance grade and an A designation in its inaugural year, with 100% proficiency in Math III, Biology and English II.

First Flight High School achieved a 99.1% graduation rate and an 86% school performance grade, the highest in its history, moving the school into an A school performance grade. First Flight High School also saw significant increases in Math I, Biology, and English II.

Manteo High School increased their Overall School Performance Grade by 2 points with additional increases in Math I, English II, and their 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate.

Dare Learning Academy, the district's alternative high school, increased its School Performance Grade by 6 points with 36 graduates during the 2025-26 school year.

Students Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials and Build Career Readiness

Dare County Schools also continues to focus on preparing students for college, careers and other opportunities after graduation.

68.5% of high school students met the minimum score of 17 required for admission into any UNC System school with an average ACT Composite score of 20.3. The ACT is a standardized college entrance exam used to measure students' readiness for college-level coursework-showing that students are well-prepared for success at the collegiate level.

During the 2025-26 school year, 2,372 students participated in CTE courses, and 251 students were CTE concentrators, meaning they successfully completed consecutive courses within a career pathway.

Students earned a total of 2,410 industry-recognized credentials, and the district's CTE credential attainment rate reached 87.8%, the highest in Dare County Schools' history.

Areas of Focus

While the district saw growth across all 12 schools, Dare County Schools continues to identify areas where additional support and refinement are needed.

For the 2026-27 school year, the district will work with schools to address minimal declines in third-grade reading (-0.3%), third-grade math (-0.2%) and fourth-grade reading (-2.4%).

"I cannot even begin to stress how honored and proud I am of our students and staff for their efforts and hard work over the last year," said Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight.

"Even in areas with downturns, there are still shining examples of successes. Where the data highlights successes, we will use it as a foundation and build on it. Where the data shows areas for improvement and growth, we will target those specific areas. I can tell you, we have already begun to do so."

Building on Progress and Raising the Bar for 2026-27

Dare County Schools will continue working with school leaders and staff to build on areas of growth, address areas of need, and support student achievement across the district.

The district's goal for the 2026-27 school year is to become the highest performing district in the state.

Reflecting on the accomplishments of students and staff, Basnight expressed his excitement about the district's progress, saying, "Schools are much more than numbers and tests, but these results strongly reinforce how blessed we are in Dare County to work in such exceptional schools and in such supportive communities. I hope our parents and community members will join us in celebrating all and each of our school's successes!"

"The people who make up Dare County Schools aren't just sitting back being satisfied with being a great school system; we all continue to grow, improve, and strive to become and do the best for each and every one of our students. At all times, our students are what success is all about."

"Thank you to our teachers, support staff, building administrators, district leaders, and everyone throughout Dare County Schools who are all outstanding, exceptional educators. It is our people, every day, who make all of these successes possible!"

A detailed district performance data presentation will be shared by Superintendent Basnight during the monthly Dare County Board of Education meeting on Sept. 21. The meeting begins at 5 PM and will be livestreamed on Dare County Schools' Youtube Channel.

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