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New Bern Municipal Building (City Hall)Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in New Bern · Craven County Schools

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

The grade covers the public school district serving New Bern, 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
13
4,809 students on the public path
In brief

New Bern’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 338 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of New Bern’s, its schools beat 34%, 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 ↓

Five elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Epiphany School of Global Studies (private), St. Paul Catholic School (private), Calvary Baptist Church School (private) and Bear Town Academy LLC (private) are in town. Craven Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 New Bern’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 (338)Better than 34%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,320 test results and a graduating class of 996 could put New Bern anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of New Bern’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 New Bern, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to A
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A

New Bern’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

New Bern vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share New Bern’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
New BernC+Craven County Schools
Trent WoodsC+Craven County Schools

Every school in New Bern

14 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 New Bernby address
Oaks Road Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
352 students17:1Rate it →
J.T. Barber Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
270 students12:1Rate it →
Creekside Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
453 students14:1Rate it →
Trent Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
390 students17:1Rate it →
Ben D. Quinn Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
312 students17:1Rate it →
H J MacDonald Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
632 students14:1Rate it →
Grover C Fields Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
542 students16:1Rate it →
New Bern High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,637 students28:1Rate it →
Craven Early College High
High · Grades 9–12
A
221 students35:1Rate it →
Online schools based in New Bernnot counted as local schools
Craven Virtual Academy
Grades 4–12
Online
117 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Epiphany School of Global Studies
Grades K–12
Private · Nonsectarian
485 students11:1Rate it →
St. Paul Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
213 students17:1Rate it →
Calvary Baptist Church School
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
86 students6:1Rate it →
Bear Town Academy LLC
Grades K–11
Private · Nonsectarian
36 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about New Bern’s schools

Are New Bern’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools New Bern 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 34%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is New Bern in?

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

Where do New Bern kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: New Bern High and Craven Early College High.

What is New Bern’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 New Bern 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 New Bern?

Yes: The Epiphany School of Global Studies (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 485 students), St. Paul Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 213 students), Calvary Baptist Church School (religious, grades K–12, 86 students) and Bear Town Academy LLC (nonsectarian, grades K–11, 36 students).

Parents talk

What New Bern families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near New Bern → 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.