Beaufort County Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Beaufort County Schools

Beaufort County Schools serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school across a rural swath of North Carolina's coastal eastern region. The district's enrollment spans traditional elementary, middle, and high schools; the directory lists grades PK-13, which reflects dual-credit or college-in-high-school programming available to high school students.

The student body is diverse by race and ethnicity. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Black population, a meaningful Hispanic population, and smaller numbers of Asian and multiracial students. The district does not publicly report the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it report counts or rates for students with disabilities or English learners, so parents seeking that detail will need to contact the district directly.

On state end-of-grade assessments in grades three through eight for the current school year, about half to just over half of students tested reached proficiency in each subject. Math proficiency stood slightly above English language arts, while science proficiency fell between them. These are below-average performances statewide. State testing data for high school end-of-course exams, which would show how students perform in subjects like algebra, biology, and English II, were not available in this report. A four-year graduation rate was also not available; a parent interested in college-going rates, on-time completion, or other post-secondary outcomes should contact the district.

The district's network includes five elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools spread across the county's towns and villages. Bath Elementary, S W Snowden Elementary, Eastern Elementary, John C Tayloe Elementary, John Small Elementary, and Northeast Elementary serve early grades; P S Jones Middle and Chocowinity Middle serve the middle years; and Washington High, Northside High, and Southside High serve grades nine through twelve. One facility, the B C Ed Tech Center, is now closed. Beginning in August 2026, Eastern Elementary (which currently serves pre-K through first grade) and John C Tayloe Elementary (which currently serves grades two and three) will consolidate into a single new Washington Elementary school, built on the Eastern Elementary site. This represents a lasting reorganization of how Washington-area elementary students will be grouped and educated.

All pre-K through fifth-grade teachers, administrators, and coaches in the district have completed or are completing LETRS training, North Carolina's mandated professional development in the science of reading. This reflects a statewide shift toward structured literacy instruction and will shape how beginning readers learn across Beaufort County elementary classrooms.

Beginning in the current school year, all North Carolina public schools, including those in Beaufort County, must prohibit students from using, displaying, or having wireless communication devices turned on during instructional time, a change effective September 2025.

Housing costs in the district's service area remain modest. Median home values across the county's various zip codes range broadly, reflecting differences between rural villages and slightly more developed towns, but the weighted average falls well below state and national benchmarks. Rental housing, where available, is correspondingly affordable. These conditions support a lower cost of living than most of North Carolina and the nation, though families should note that economic opportunity and wage growth in a rural coastal county can differ from urban and suburban markets.

The district operates alone within Beaufort County; there are no neighboring districts to compare against on graduation rate, spending, absenteeism, or proficiency. Parents weighing schools in this area will benefit from visiting individual school websites, attending board meetings, and speaking directly with school leaders about curriculum, programs, and support services. The coming consolidation of two elementary schools also makes it worth checking with the district about transition timelines and how current students will be served during the changeover.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,802

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 19%

Black 31%

White 43%

Asian 0%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

50%

71%

Gr 4

50%

80%

Gr 5

41%

64%

Gr 6

41%

67%

Gr 7

44%

56%

Gr 8

38%

63%

Gr 38

44%

66%

Math

Gr 3

59%

87%

Gr 4

49%

81%

Gr 5

48%

72%

Gr 6

47%

75%

Gr 7

44%

66%

Gr 8

42%

63%

Gr 38

48%

73%

Science

Gr 5

49%

72%

Gr 8

44%

69%

Gr 38

46%

70%

Schools in this District

14 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bath Elementary

S W Snowden Elementary

B C Ed Tech Center

Eastern Elementary

John C Tayloe Elementary

John Small Elementary

Beaufort Co Early College High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

57%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

52%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

55%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$212,454

Year-over-year change-0.7%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$106K to $323K

vs. state typical0.63x

vs. national typical0.58x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
27889	Washington	$243K	+2.0%	19.1%
27806	Aurora	$130K	-6.5%	16.4%
27817	Chocowinity	$289K	+0.9%	12.1%
27860	Pantego	$145K	-4.1%	9.8%
27810	Belhaven	$236K	+2.9%	9.6%
27814	Blounts Creek	$184K	+0.3%	9.2%
27808	Bath	$323K	+0.9%	5.5%
28586	Vanceboro	$194K	+3.5%	0.8%
27962	Plymouth	$106K	-2.7%	0.7%
27834	Greenville	$210K	+1.2%	0.6%
27837	Grimesland	$321K	+3.0%	0.2%
27892	Williamston	$129K	-2.5%	0.1%
27871		$118K	+2.8%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,245/mo

Year-over-year change+5.5%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
27834	Greenville	$1,245	+5.5%	0.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,072/mo

Home price / national median income2.5x

Annual rent / national median income17.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$173/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$337,273 (-0.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.