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Excellent

#160 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 6% in state

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary

Elementary School · Craven County Board of Education

535 Hwy 70 W, Havelock, NC 28532

Enrollment

350

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#160 of 2,648

In Havelock

#1 of 9

public schools

In district

#2 of 26

Craven County Board of Education

Academic performance

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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W Jesse Gurganus Elementary

8.7/10

Elementary School in Havelock · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Arthur W Edwards Elementary

4.2/10

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

Tucker Creek Middle

6.9/10

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

About W Jesse Gurganus Elementary

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary is a public elementary school in Havelock, NC, part of Craven County Board of Education. W Jesse Gurganus Elementary serves approximately 350 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. W Jesse Gurganus Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #160 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for W Jesse Gurganus Elementary show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 5.9
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

W Jesse Gurganus 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 Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.67 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency79% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency75.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+15.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.5 pts
Overall Proficiency77% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)62% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+14.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,893
Chronic Absenteeism14.6%

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary — Students at W Jesse Gurganus Elementary score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

47.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 77.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 70.8% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
89%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
86%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
64%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
62%
2014
Math
73%
ELA
63%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
81.2%
ELA
66.2%
2025
Math
80.6%
ELA
76.2%

* 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: 8.5/10.

How W Jesse Gurganus Elementary Compares

See how W Jesse Gurganus Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
94th percentile in NC
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
48%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.6%

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

535 Hwy 70 W, Havelock, NC 28532

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering W Jesse Gurganus Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bogue Sound Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 13.3 miles away, in nearby Newport), with a very similar rating. Another option is Creekside Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby New Bern), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Roger Bell New Tech Academy (rated 6.6/10, 4.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Havelock, see our Havelock schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 13.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Arthur W Edwards Elementary Havelock 0.8 mi 4.2
Tucker Creek Middle Havelock 1.3 mi 6.9
Graham A Barden Elementary Havelock 1.7 mi 4.1
ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Havelock 3.1 mi 6.4
Havelock Elementary Havelock 3.3 mi 6.2
Early College EAST High Havelock 3.3 mi 8.0
Havelock Middle Havelock 3.3 mi 4.6
Havelock High Havelock 3.4 mi 6.0
Roger Bell New Tech Academy Havelock 4.0 mi 6.6
GRAMERCY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Newport 6.7 mi 7.4
NEWPORT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Newport 7.5 mi 5.2
Creekside Elementary New Bern 9.2 mi 8.4
Newport Elementary Newport 9.5 mi 5.8
Arapahoe Charter School Arapahoe 9.8 mi 8.0
Newport Middle Newport 10.5 mi 6.2
NEW BERN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY New Bern 11.1 mi 5.1
Brinson Memorial Elementary New Bern 11.7 mi 5.2
Broad Creek Middle Newport 12.6 mi 7.7
Bogue Sound Elementary Newport 13.3 mi 8.9
Croatan High Newport 13.4 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28532 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,772

Median Home Value

$193,200

Median Rent

$1,270/mo

Population

19,918

College Educated

18.6%

Homeownership

55.1%

Avg Commute

23.9 min

Poverty Rate

15%

Median Age

30.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Albert H Bangert Elementary New Bern, NC 8.7
Carolina Beach Elementary Carolina Beach, NC 8.7
Easley Elementary Durham, NC 8.7
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School Forest City, NC 8.7
Highfalls Elementary Bennett, NC 8.7
New Hope Elementary Wilson, NC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about W Jesse Gurganus Elementary

What grades does W Jesse Gurganus Elementary serve?

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend W Jesse Gurganus Elementary?

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 350 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at W Jesse Gurganus Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at W Jesse Gurganus Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does W Jesse Gurganus Elementary rank in NC?

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary ranks #160 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is W Jesse Gurganus Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 W Jesse Gurganus Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, W Jesse Gurganus Elementary has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is W Jesse Gurganus Elementary a charter school?

No, W Jesse Gurganus Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is W Jesse Gurganus Elementary a Title I school?

No, W Jesse Gurganus Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for W Jesse Gurganus Elementary?

47.7% of students at W Jesse Gurganus 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
35 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
350
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
47.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Craven County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.6%

District

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

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