For the 2025 school year, there are 27 public schools serving 12,507 students in Craven County, NC (there are 5 private schools, serving 1,340 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Craven County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Craven County, NC are W Jesse Gurganus Elementary School, Craven Early College High School and Albert H Bangert Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Craven County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Craven County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Craven County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
W Jesse Gurganus Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
535 Hwy 70 W
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5150
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5150
Gr: K-5 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #22.
Craven Early College High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 637-5706
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 637-5706
Gr: 9-13 | 183 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Albert H Bangert Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3712 Canterbury Road
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6415
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6415
Gr: K-5 | 456 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2790 Landscape Drive
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-4360
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-4360
Gr: K-5 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #55.
Tucker Creek Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
200 Sermons Boulevard
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-7200
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-7200
Gr: 6-8 | 517 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Havelock High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
101 Webb Boulevard
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5112
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5112
Gr: 9-12 | 1,063 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #77.
Early College East High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
104 Middle School Lane
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5194
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5194
Gr: 9-13 | 169 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #88.
Grover C Fields Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2000 M L King Jr Boulevard
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6438
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6438
Gr: 6-8 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #99.
Brinson Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
319 Neuse Forest Avenue
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6431
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6431
Gr: K-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1010.
Craven Virtual Academy
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1319 Commerce Dr
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 497-2250
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 497-2250
Gr: 4-12 | 134 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1111.
Trent Park Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2500 Educational Drive
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6481
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6481
Gr: K-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1212.
Arthur W Edwards Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 Education Lane
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5140
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5140
Gr: K-5 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1313.
New Bern High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4200 Academic Drive
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6400
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,632 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Ben D Quinn Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4275 M L King Jr Boulevard
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6420
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6420
Gr: K-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Havelock Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Cunningham Boulevard
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5106
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5106
Gr: PK-5 | 288 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1616.
Graham A Barden Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 Cedar Drive
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5100
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5100
Gr: PK-5 | 226 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1717.
James W Smith Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
150 Koonce Town Road
Cove City, NC 28523
(252) 514-6466
Cove City, NC 28523
(252) 514-6466
Gr: PK-5 | 330 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1818.
West Craven High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Streets Ferry Road
Vanceboro, NC 28586
(252) 244-3200
Vanceboro, NC 28586
(252) 244-3200
Gr: 9-12 | 821 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1919.
H J Macdonald Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3127 Elizabeth Avenue
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6450
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6450
Gr: 6-8 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #2020.
Vanceboro-farm Life Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2000 Farm Life Avenue
Vanceboro, NC 28586
(252) 244-3215
Vanceboro, NC 28586
(252) 244-3215
Gr: PK-5 | 457 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2121.
Havelock Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
102 Middle School Lane
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5125
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5125
Gr: 6-8 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2222.
Roger Bell New Tech Academy
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
804 Fontana Boulevard
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5133
Havelock, NC 28532
(252) 444-5133
Gr: PK-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2323.
Bridgeton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
230 Branch Canal Road
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6425
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6425
Gr: PK-5 | 428 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2424.
West Craven Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
515 Nw Craven Mid School Road
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6488
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-6488
Gr: 6-8 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2525.
J T Barber Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1700 Cobb Street
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6460
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6460
Gr: PK-5 | 246 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2626.
Oaks Road Academy
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2811 Oaks Road
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6475
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 514-6475
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: n/an/a
Riverside Leadership Academy
Charter School
1955 Old Airport Rd
New Bern, NC 28562
(919) 807-3300
New Bern, NC 28562
(919) 807-3300
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Craven County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Craven County, NC include W Jesse Gurganus Elementary School, Craven Early College High School and Albert H Bangert Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Craven County?
27 public schools are located in Craven County.
What percentage of students in Craven County go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Craven County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Craven County?
Craven County public schools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Craven County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Craven County include: Havelock Middle School vs. Tucker Creek Middle School, Havelock High School vs. New Bern High School, West Craven High School vs. New Bern High School
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