Craven County Board of Education School District
School District · New Bern, North Carolina
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,584
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,584
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#80 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$11,893
$1,219 vs North Carolina median
District size
12,584 students
Much larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Craven County Board of Education ranks #80 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Craven County Board of Education's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 26 schools. Its top-rated schools are W Jesse Gurganus Elementary (7.9/10), J T Barber Elementary (7.9/10), and Creekside Elementary (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Craven County Board of Education schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Craven County Board of Education schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Craven County Board of Education
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (26 of 26). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | W Jesse Gurganus Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | J T Barber Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Creekside Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Roger Bell New Tech Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | James W Smith Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Craven Early College High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Early College East High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Brinson Memorial Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Bridgeton Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | H J Macdonald Middle | 6.7 / 10 |
See all 26 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Craven County Board of Education
Craven County Board of Education is a New Bern, North Carolina school district serving 26 schools.The district educates 12,584 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.8:1. District-level spending was $11,893 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Craven County Board of Education demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is J T Barber Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Craven County Board of Education students show an average math proficiency of 53.8% and ELA proficiency of 52.8%.
The district includes 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Craven County Board of Education, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Craven County Board of Education with test data.
Schools in Craven County Board of Education
26 schoolsElementary Schools15
Middle Schools5
High Schools5
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- New Bern
- Total Enrollment
- 12,584
- Teachers (FTE)
- 798
- District spending per student
- $11,893NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Craven County Board of Education?
Craven County Board of Education has 26 schools in total — 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Craven County Board of Education?
The average composite rating for Craven County Board of Education is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Craven County Board of Education?
Craven County Board of Education's district-level spending was $11,893 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Craven County Board of Education?
The average student-teacher ratio in Craven County Board of Education is 15.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Craven County Board of Education?
J T Barber Elementary is the highest-rated school in Craven County Board of Education with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What are the test scores in Craven County Board of Education?
Across schools in Craven County Board of Education with test data, the average math proficiency is 53.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Craven County Board of Education compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Craven County Board of Education has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 26 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 53.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 52.8%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Craven County Board of Education with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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