Emerald Isle, NC, students in public school attend Carteret County schools which are located in Cape Carteret and Newport on Highway 24. There are also private daycares and preschools in Cape Carteret, Swansboro, and Morehead City, NC.
The focus of the Carteret County Public School System mission is to graduate all students prepared to be productive citizens. Carteret County Schools Ranked 7th in education in the state report created by NC CAP. Carteret County Public School System focuses on providing a quality education to its approximately 8,600 students enrolled in 18 schools and 107 pre-kindergartens. The schools are located throughout Carteret County, from Atlantic Beach to Cape Carteret.
With about 1,140 employees, the school system is the largest employer in the county.
Carteret County public schools are governed by an elected seven-member board of education. Members serve four-year staggered terms and are chosen in county-wide, nonpartisan elections. School board members meet in open session each month.
