Enrollment
270
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · New Bern, NC
J T Barber Elementary
Federal NCES profile for J T Barber Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370331000387
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J T Barber Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in New Bern · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 98.9%
- free-lunch eligible
J T Barber Elementary has class sizes smaller than 85% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J T Barber Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in New Bern, NC.
School address
District: Craven County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370331000387 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J T Barber Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at J T Barber Elementary
J T Barber Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in New Bern, North Carolina, enrolling 270 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.3:1, J T Barber Elementary is leaner than roughly 85% of North Carolina schools and 22% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 98.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 270 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 284 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #131.
Its student body is led by African American (59%) and Asian (12%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 270 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 48.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among New Bern's public schools, it stands alongside Bridgeton Elementary (415 students): J T Barber Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.3:1 vs 14.3:1).
Craven County Schools also operates New Bern High (1,637 students) and Havelock High (1,014 students) alongside J T Barber Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How J T Barber Elementary compares
J T Barber Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 22% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.9% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 270 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
270
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 15% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
48.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,737
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 270 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 51 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 58.9%
Asian 11.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
White 10.4%
Two or More 6.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.9%
Largest group: African American at 58.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.2, J T Barber Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Craven County Schools, which includes J T Barber Elementary.
$11,737
Per student
-2%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.0%
State 59.0%
Federal 23.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How J T Barber Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Havelock High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Craven High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| H J Macdonald Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Craven Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J T Barber Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,637
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 751
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar other schools in New Bern
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Bridgeton Elementary
Standard public school
415 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Oaks Road Academy
Standard public school
352 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Ben D Quinn Elementary
Standard public school
312 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Craven Virtual Academy
Standard public school
117 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~270 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J T Barber Elementary's federal record.
- Compare J T Barber Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Craven County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about J T Barber Elementary
How many students attend J T Barber Elementary?
J T Barber Elementary has 270 students enrolled. It is a public school in New Bern, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J T Barber Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J T Barber Elementary is 12.3:1, which is 22% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J T Barber Elementary?
98.9% of students at J T Barber Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J T Barber Elementary?
The largest demographic group at J T Barber Elementary is African American at 58.9% of enrollment, in New Bern, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J T Barber Elementary?
J T Barber Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does J T Barber Elementary rank among schools in New Bern?
By Resource Investment Index, J T Barber Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in New Bern, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in New Bern on the city page.
Is J T Barber Elementary a good school?
J T Barber Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Craven County Schools?
Besides J T Barber Elementary, Craven County Schools also operates New Bern High (1,637 students), Havelock High (1,014 students), and West Craven High (751 students). See the Craven County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.