Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Craven County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
26
Schools
12,755
Students
$12,267
Per-Pupil Spend
-14% nat'l
68.8%
Free Lunch Rate
+17pp vs nat'l
87.2%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Craven County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 12,755 students across 26 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.2% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,267 is below the national average for a US public school district. 69% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 38/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (26)
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Grover C Fields Middle06–08509
H J MacDonald Middle06–08712
Havelock Middle06–08395
Tucker Creek Middle06–08519
West Craven Middle06–08673
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Craven Early College High09–13226
Early College EAST High09–13203
Havelock High09–121,104
New Bern High09–121,631
West Craven High09–12860
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Craven Virtual Academy03–12111
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,267-14% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
59%
18%
State
59.0%
Local (property tax)
18.0%
Federal
23.0%

State funding accounts for 59% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
26
Schools
12,755
Students
69%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.2%
Opportunity Score38/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 26 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
69% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
23% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Craven County Schools?
Craven County Schools has 26 public schools, serving a total of 12,755 students.
What is the graduation rate for Craven County Schools?
The graduation rate is 87.2%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Craven County Schools spend per student?
Craven County Schools spends $12,267 per pupil — 14% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Craven County Schools?
69% of students in Craven County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Craven County Schools?
No, Craven County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Craven County Schools serve?
Craven County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Craven County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Craven County Schools is 38/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.