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Needs Improvement

#2392 of 2,648 schools in NC

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary

Elementary School · Craven County Board of Education

2000 Farm Life Avenue, Vanceboro, NC 28586

Enrollment

457

Student-Teacher

14.3:1

Score

3.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#2,392 of 2,648

In Vanceboro

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#21 of 26

Craven County Board of Education

School environment

7.0 / 10

Very Good

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Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary

3.9/10

Elementary School in Vanceboro · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

West Craven High

3.9/10

4.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

West Craven Middle

2.8/10

6.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary is a public elementary school in Vanceboro, NC, part of Craven County Board of Education. Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary serves approximately 457 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,392 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts below district
  • This school 3.9 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 5.9
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.3Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.64 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency33.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-19.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-12.7 pts
Overall Proficiency39% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-7.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,893
Chronic Absenteeism27.4%

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary — Students at Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 47.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 42.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
88%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
86%
ELA
75%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
74%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
33%
2013
Math
33%
ELA
37%
2014
Math
40%
ELA
34%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
44%
2017
Math
45%
ELA
34%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
43.7%
2025
Math
45.6%
ELA
33.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.3/10.

How Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary Compares

See how Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.9/10
10th percentile in NC
Academic
4.4/10
Below Average
Growth
2.3/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2000 Farm Life Avenue, Vanceboro, NC 28586

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Chicod (rated 8.9/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Greenville), which scores notably higher. Another option is Chocowinity Primary (rated 8.8/10, 13.5 miles away, in nearby Chocowinity), which scores notably higher. Additionally, James W Smith Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Cove City), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Vanceboro, see our Vanceboro schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.8 mi
School Distance Rating
West Craven High Vanceboro 4.9 mi 3.9
West Craven Middle New Bern 6.2 mi 2.8
UNITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Chocowinity 8.8 mi 6.2
SWIFT CREEK MENNONITE SCHOOL Grifton 9.0 mi
James W Smith Elementary Cove City 9.0 mi 7.8
Southside High Chocowinity 10.8 mi 5.7
Bridgeton Elementary New Bern 12.1 mi 5.5
CLAYSMILL RD CHRISTIAN ACADAMY Dover 11.1 mi 5.4
H J MacDonald Middle New Bern 13.4 mi 4.7
Oaks Road Academy New Bern 13.3 mi 2.9
Chocowinity Primary Chocowinity 13.5 mi 8.8
Chicod Greenville 12.9 mi 8.9
Craven Early College High New Bern 13.9 mi 7.8
J T Barber Elementary New Bern 13.9 mi 3.8
Chocowinity Middle Chocowinity 14.2 mi 7.8
Trent Park Elementary New Bern 14.2 mi 7.1
New Bern High New Bern 14.4 mi 5.0
Grover C Fields Middle New Bern 14.3 mi 7.1
Ben D Quinn Elementary New Bern 14.9 mi 4.7
Craven Virtual Academy New Bern 14.8 mi 3.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28586 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$46,486

Median Home Value

$100,600

Median Rent

$828/mo

Population

8,094

College Educated

8.4%

Homeownership

75.3%

Avg Commute

29.2 min

Poverty Rate

19%

Median Age

36.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Elizabeth Elementary Shelby, NC 3.9
Forest Hill Elementary Morganton, NC 3.9
Love Memorial Elementary Lincolnton, NC 3.9
Petree Elementary Winston-Salem, NC 3.9
Robinson Elementary Gastonia, NC 3.9
Shiloh Valley Primary School Monroe, NC 3.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary

What grades does Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary serve?

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary?

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 457 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary is 14.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary rank in NC?

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary ranks #2,392 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary a charter school?

No, Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary a Title I school?

No, Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary?

99.3% of students at Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
16 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
457
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Craven County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.4%

District

Craven County Board of Education
District Enrollment
12,584
Schools in District
26
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,893
District Rank
#21 of 26

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