The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Science. The lowest is 58% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Beaufort Middle
Beaufort Middle is a regular public middle school in the coastal town of Beaufort, which sits as the county seat of Carteret County, in the eastern part of the state. The school enrolls a small group of students across grades six through eight, with a roughly balanced spread across the three grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Black, or Hispanic. About half of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that places this school in a setting of moderate economic pressure. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
In state testing from the most recent school year, Beaufort Middle's proficiency rates show a mixed picture. In math, roughly three in five students tested at proficiency or above. English language arts came in at a somewhat lower rate, with about three in five proficient. Science performance was notably stronger, with about seven in ten students proficient. Science testing methodology changed this year, so direct trend comparison is not possible. The school tested all students who were enrolled, and the tested count was consistent across math and ELA.
Academic performance sits in a context where comparisons within Carteret County are limited; state data covers only a small set of districts in the county, and the proficiency comparison universe is too thin to place Beaufort Middle meaningfully against local peers. A parent interested in how this school stacks up against other middle schools in the county may want to reach out to the district directly for that context.
The school is part of Carteret County Public Schools, a district in the midst of substantial infrastructure investment. In 2020, voters approved a school bond referendum that has been funding capital projects across the district, including renovations at the high schools, new classroom buildings, new gymnasiums, and athletic field improvements. Those projects have largely come to completion or are scheduled to wrap up by fall 2025. The bond is supported by a gradual increase in property tax that will remain in place for families in the district going forward. The district also made a notable calendar change in 2024, moving the academic year to start in mid-August and end in late May, earlier than the state's standard window. The district aligned this with Carteret Community College's schedule to support dual-enrollment pathways. That calendar shift drew legal challenge, so it is a point parents may want to monitor.
Beaufort itself is a small, walkable historic waterfront town that has been growing steadily. The downtown centers on Front Street along Taylor's Creek, with shops, galleries, and restaurants in restored 18th- and 19th-century homes. Beyond the historic core, newer residential subdivisions have been expanding, including large master-planned communities like Beau Coast and several townhome projects now under construction or approved. The county's economy rests on tourism, government work, marine science institutions like NOAA's Beaufort Lab and UNC's Institute of Marine Sciences, boatbuilding, and military-connected work through nearby MCAS Cherry Point. Home values in the area are moderate and have appreciated modestly year over year. Rents are relatively high compared to local incomes, a trend that reflects the area's appeal as a retirement and second-home market.
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