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Mount Shiloh Missionary Baptist ChurchMount Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in James City · Craven County Schools

James City’s public schools score below 57% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving James City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#200of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
81%
▼ 6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.7K
▼ 3% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.3
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
6,856 students on the public path
In brief

James City’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 332 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of James City’s, its schools beat 35%, lower than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 49% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,672 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then five middle and five high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Riverside Leadership Academy and New Bern Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind James City’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 43% of North Carolina school districts, #200 of 290 North Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the North Carolina average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 43%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (332)Better than 35%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,320 test results and a graduating class of 996 could put James City anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of James City’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,045 in math, 6,596 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve James City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Brinson Memorial ElementaryCraven County SchoolsB−
6–85 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−
9–125 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+

James City’s public schools are run by Craven County Schools, which also serves Bridgeton, Cove City, Dover and Havelock and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Craven County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 26 schools · 12,152 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 17.3 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,672NC $13,045 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 49.9% · 6596 students tested
Math49%
State average 50.8% · 6045 students tested

James City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share James City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
James CityC+Craven County Schools
New BernC+Craven County Schools

Every school in James City

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in James Cityby address
Brinson Memorial Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · New Bern
B−
446 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving James Cityin other towns
H J MacDonald Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Bern
C+
632 students14:1Rate it →
West Craven Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Bern
C−
614 students17:1Rate it →
Grover C Fields Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Bern
B
542 students16:1Rate it →
Tucker Creek Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Havelock
A−
478 students16:1Rate it →
Havelock Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Havelock
C+
313 students13:1Rate it →
New Bern High
High · Grades 9–12 · New Bern
B+
1,637 students28:1Rate it →
Havelock High
High · Grades 9–12 · Havelock
A
1,014 students23:1Rate it →
West Craven High
High · Grades 9–12 · Vanceboro
B−
751 students21:1Rate it →
Craven Early College High
High · Grades 9–12 · New Bern
A
221 students35:1Rate it →
Early College EAST High
High · Grades 9–12 · Havelock
A+
208 studentsRate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Riverside Leadership Academy
Elementary · Grades K–7 · New Bern
Charter
374 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
New Bern Christian Academy
Grades K–12 · New Bern
Private · Religious
479 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about James City’s schools

Are James City’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools James City children attend score below 57% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #200 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 35%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is James City in?

Craven County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 12,152 students in 26 schools (2024–25).

Where do James City kids go to high school?

One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: New Bern High, Havelock High, West Craven High, Craven Early College High and Early College EAST High.

What is James City’s graduation rate?

81% of the class of 2023 in Craven County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does James City spend per student?

$12,672 in Craven County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in James City?

Yes: New Bern Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 479 students). James City also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What James City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near James City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.