Enrollment
614
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · New Bern, NC
West Craven Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Craven Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370331000392
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Craven Middle earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in New Bern · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 98.4%
- free-lunch eligible
West Craven Middle has class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Craven Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in New Bern, NC.
School address
District: Craven County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370331000392 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Craven Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Craven Middle
West Craven Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in New Bern, North Carolina, enrolling 614 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.6:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 98.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 614 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 531 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #303.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and African American (31%) (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 307 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 69.1% 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.
Discipline events run high: 420 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 614 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among New Bern's middle schools, it stands alongside H J Macdonald Middle (632 students): West Craven Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.6:1 vs 17.6:1).
Craven County Schools also operates New Bern High (1,637 students) and Havelock High (1,014 students) alongside West Craven Middle.
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 West Craven Middle compares
West Craven Middle 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.4% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 614 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
614
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 84% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
69.1%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 307 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
202
in-school suspensions + 218 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 32.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 68.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
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
White 41.9%
African American 30.9%
Hispanic or Latino 17.9%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.1, West Craven Middle 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 West Craven Middle.
$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 West Craven Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Havelock High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Craven High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| H J Macdonald Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Grover C Fields Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Craven Middle'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
- 542
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in New Bern
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~614 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Craven Middle's federal record.
- Compare West Craven Middle 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 West Craven Middle
How many students attend West Craven Middle?
West Craven Middle has 614 students enrolled. It is a middle school in New Bern, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Craven Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Craven Middle is 18.6:1, which is 18% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Craven Middle?
98.4% of students at West Craven Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Craven Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Craven Middle is White at 41.9% of enrollment, in New Bern, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Craven Middle?
West Craven Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 West Craven Middle rank among middle schools in New Bern?
By Resource Investment Index, West Craven Middle ranks #2 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in New Bern on the city page.
Is West Craven Middle a good school?
West Craven Middle earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% 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 West Craven Middle, 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.