Craven County Schools

New Bern, North Carolina — 26 schools

12,755
Total Enrollment
26
Schools
$12,267
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Craven County Schools operates 26 public schools serving 12,755 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 other, 6 elementary, 5 high, 5 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 12,152 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Craven County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,267 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 18.0% local, 59.0% state, and 23.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $67,669 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 48/100, ranked #130 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 26 schools offering Advanced Placement (22 AP courses district-wide), a 348.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 37.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 45.6% White, 24.1% African American, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Craven County Schools school enrollment varies 14× across entities

Craven County Schools school enrollment ranges from 117 students (lowest) to 1,637 students (highest), a spread of 1,520 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Craven County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 64.9% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Craven County Schools student-counselor ratio is 348:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Craven County Schools is typically wider than the Craven County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Craven County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 37.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.0%
Federal
59.0%
State
18.0%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
130 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Craven County county, where this district is located.

$897
Studio/mo
$902
1 BR/mo
$1,184
2 BR/mo
$1,591
3 BR/mo
$1,988
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$67,669
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 26 schools in Craven County Schools.

White 45.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.4%
African American 24.1%
Asian 4.5%
Multiracial 9.8%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 26
Schools with AP
22 AP courses total
348.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
37.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Craven County Schools

School Enrollment
New Bern High
1,637
Havelock High
1,014
West Craven High
751
H J Macdonald Middle
632
West Craven Middle
614
Grover C Fields Middle
542
Vanceboro-Farm Life Elementary
494
Arthur W Edwards Elementary
489
Tucker Creek Middle
478
Creekside Elementary
453
Albert H Bangert Elementary
446
Brinson Memorial Elementary
446
Bridgeton Elementary
415
Roger Bell New Tech Academy
408
Trent Park Elementary
390
Oaks Road Academy
352
W Jesse Gurganus Elementary
340
James W Smith Elementary
325
Havelock Middle
313
Ben D Quinn Elementary
312
J T Barber Elementary
270
Havelock Elementary
248
Graham a Barden Elementary
237
Craven Early College High
221
Early College East High
208
Craven Virtual Academy
117

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $14,074/pupil
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $15,997/pupil
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Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,788/pupil
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Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $14,195/pupil
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Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,982/pupil
Compare vs Craven County Schools →

Compare Craven County Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Craven County Schools?

Craven County Schools has 26 schools, including 5 high, 5 middle, 10 other, 6 elementary. Total enrollment is 12,755 students.

How much does Craven County Schools spend per student?

Craven County Schools spends $12,267 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #130 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Craven County Schools?

The average teacher salary in Craven County Schools is $67,669 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Craven County Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Craven County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Craven County Schools?

Craven County Schools students are 45.6% White, 24.1% African American, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino, 4.5% Asian, averaged across 26 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Craven County Schools?

Craven County Schools has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #130 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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