Public schools in New Bern, NC
15 open public schools with an address in New Bern, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,221
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
1 virtual
An overview of New Bern public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in New Bern, NC: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,221 students, an average of 481 per school. The largest campus is New Bern High (1,637 students), and the largest elementary school is Creekside Elementary (453).
Craven County Board of Education operates the most schools here (14), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 75% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving New Bern
Elementary schools in New Bern
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert H Bangert Elementary Craven County Board of Education | KG–05 | 446 | 17.5:1 | |
| Ben D. Quinn Elementary Craven County Board of Education | PK–05 | 312 | 17.4:1 | |
| Bridgeton Elementary Craven County Board of Education | PK–05 | 415 | 14:1 | |
| Brinson Memorial Elementary Craven County Board of Education | KG–05 | 446 | 15.5:1 | |
| Creekside Elementary Craven County Board of Education | KG–05 | 453 | 14.4:1 | |
| J.T. Barber Elementary Craven County Board of Education | PK–05 | 270 | 12.3:1 | |
| Oaks Road Academy Craven County Board of Education | PK–05 | 352 | 17.3:1 | |
| Riverside Leadership Academy Riverside Leadership Academy · Charter | KG–07 | 374 | — | |
| Trent Park Elementary Craven County Board of Education | KG–05 | 390 | 17:1 |
Middle schools in New Bern
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grover C Fields Middle Craven County Board of Education | 06–08 | 542 | 16:1 | |
| H J MacDonald Middle Craven County Board of Education | 06–08 | 632 | 14.3:1 | |
| West Craven Middle Craven County Board of Education | 06–08 | 614 | 17.3:1 |
High schools in New Bern
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven Early College High Craven County Board of Education | 09–13 | 221 | 34.4:1 | |
| New Bern High Craven County Board of Education | 09–12 | 1,637 | 27.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in New Bern
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven Virtual Academy Craven County Board of Education · Virtual | 04–12 | 117 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White43.9%
- Hispanic14.5%
- Black25.6%
- Asian7.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial8.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 New Bern schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,221 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in New Bern
How many public schools are in New Bern, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in New Bern: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,221 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve New Bern?
Schools with an address in New Bern belong to 2 education agencies, led by Craven County Board of Education (14 schools), Riverside Leadership Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in New Bern?
New Bern High reported the largest high-school enrollment in New Bern, with 1,637 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in New Bern?
Yes. 1 of the 15 public schools in New Bern are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Riverside Leadership Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in New Bern schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across New Bern public schools is 17:1, higher than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in New Bern guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities