Most every topic
imaginable gets covered about the Outer Banks except the one that might be the
most important, “What is it like to live on the Outer Banks?” There is a
certain amount of logic to discussing this question, since ours is an economy
dominated by tourism, so folks come down for a short visit and then head home.
Since it’s a question that comes up consistently, maybe this is a good time to
give my personal overview.
First of all, for those people asking about our schools, or
whether we even have schools, the answer is, “Yes, we have an excellent school
system.” Dare County Schools, which comprise most of the Outer Banks, are
amongst the best in the state. First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills and
Manteo High School were recently ranked in the top 10% of high schools in the
nation by two national publications.
Corolla is a part of Currituck County, and although the
county schools are not quite as highly rated as Dare County, their school
system is also quite good. Particularly noteworthy is Waterside Charter School
in Corolla. This K-6 school was started to keep primary school kids from
spending 2-3 hours a day on a school bus to arrive to and depart from their
mainland schools. This school is an excellent example of what can go right with
the charter school concept.
When stuck in summer traffic with 150,000 cars, including
375,000 new visitors per week, it may be hard to imagine our simpler way of
life. We have several incorporated towns; Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk,
Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo. For most, that may be a good indicator
of where you live, but our real identity is within the community called the
Outer Banks.
It’s true that once our guests depart, things do slow down considerably,
but they certainly don’t stop. Although many local events are designed for our
visitors, a majority of our off season gatherings are what makes small town
America so wonderful.
For example, The Dare
County Arts Council just finished up their Artrageous celebration, which is
about blending the kids of our communities with art. During the holidays, there
are numerous parades and tree lightings. Duck celebrations are completely
unique and worth exploring. And, for those looking for an old time flavor,
Manteo events appear as if they have come straight from a Currier & Ives
print.
