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James W Smith Elementary

Q: Is James W Smith Elementary a good school?

James W Smith Elementary ranks 765 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

765^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

James W Smith Elementary is a public elementary school located in Cove City, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 330. The school is part of the Craven County Board of Education district, which is ranked 128 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

James W Smith Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina elementary schools, with rankings ranging from 334 to 1110 out of around 1,500 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally below the Craven County and North Carolina averages across grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in 3rd grade math (64.7%) and 5th grade reading (45.8%) are lower than the district (66% and 52.3%) and state (64.1% and 52.9%) averages. Additionally, the school's performance on state assessments has been declining over the past few years, with proficiency rates dropping in several grade levels and subject areas.

James W Smith Elementary has a very high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. When compared to the nearby schools, such as Trent Park Elementary, which is also in the Craven County district, James W Smith Elementary generally performs worse on state assessments and has a higher percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. These challenges suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to address the specific needs of the school's student population and improve overall academic outcomes.

325

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,531

Per pupil spending ?

96.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

150 Koonce Town Road
Cove City, NC 28523-9674

(252) 514-6466

District: Craven County Board of Education

Students who attend James W Smith Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	West Craven Middle
High:	West Craven High

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.5%

African American:

35.1%

Hispanic:

17.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare James W Smith Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 49th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 26 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school55%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg57%

765^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▲ up 26 pts since 2015

From bottom 23% (2015) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Craven County Board of Education

128^th of 242Craven County Board of Education among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	765 of 1490	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.5	962 of 1505	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.5	780 of 1502	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.2	742 of 1514	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.9	958 of 1489	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.6	704 of 1473	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.7	334 of 1434	76.7%	★★★★☆
2017	43.6	864 of 1429	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	35.8	991 of 1425	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	28.0	1110 of 1440	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.3	1149 of 1390	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.6	1163 of 1403	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	34.4	1020 of 1388	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	28.2	1097 of 1381	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	27.9	1083 of 1363	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	38.6	937 of 1354	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	32.8	967 of 1324	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.1	964 of 1293	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.6	944 of 1276	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	54.8	346 of 918	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	20.8	817 of 924	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	67.2	232 of 933	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	26.2	760 of 927	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.8	594 of 896	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.5	464 of 949	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	79.7	101 of 927	89.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	41.6	334 of 646	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	562 of 878	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	68.6	168 of 897	81.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.9	753 of 1451	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	968 of 1455	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.0	679 of 1459	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.3	663 of 1458	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.6	933 of 1440	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.4	605 of 1424	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	80.9	207 of 1405	85.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	49.3	463 of 951	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.6	377 of 915	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.7	219 of 893	75.5%	★★★★☆
2021	30.7	630 of 843	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	62.6	436 of 1437	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.5	1028 of 1450	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.1	599 of 1437	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.4	610 of 1366	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.5	771 of 1329	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.6	515 of 1361	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.8	194 of 1332	85.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.9	746 of 1450	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.3	884 of 1464	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.0	819 of 1461	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	775 of 1464	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.8	908 of 1444	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.7	771 of 1430	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.8	475 of 1413	66.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	507 of 1172	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.2	654 of 1166	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.9	673 of 1183	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.0	530 of 1194	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.2	838 of 1172	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.0	483 of 1183	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.4	317 of 1178	73.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)70th percentile+21 vs school

African American (2025)62nd percentile+14 vs school

White (2025)57th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2024)51st percentile+15 vs school

Male (2025)49th percentile~ school

Disabled (2021)48th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile~ school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science62%~ state avg

Mathematics55%-5 vs state

Reading51%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near James W Smith Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James W Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Koonce Town Road	Cove City	28523	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 514-6466	325	23	14.0	96.6%	125 (38.5%)	114 (35.1%)	57 (17.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.9%)	48.6	765^th of 1490 public elementary schools	48.7%		38.5	962^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	36.1%	197	64.7	38.1	60.4				51.0	57.1	45.8				62.5		$12,531	$1,671	$10,860
Vanceboro-Farm Life Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2000 Farm Life Avenue	Vanceboro	28586	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 244-3215	494	31	15.6	98.2%	227 (46.0%)	164 (33.2%)	54 (10.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	45 (9.1%)	21.2	1257^th of 1490 public elementary schools	15.6%		38.8	955^th of 1505 public elementary schools	36.5%	302	57.6	29.8	52.6				28.8	41.7	30.8				46.2		$10,168	$1,737	$8,430
Grifton	Public	PK, KG-8	513 E McCrae St	Grifton	28530	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 524-5141	395	30	12.9	97.5%	106 (26.8%)	174 (44.1%)	87 (22.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.8%)	34.7	1008^th of 1490 public elementary schools	32.3%		29.5	1109^th of 1505 public elementary schools	26.3%	101	60.0	48.5	45.5	52.3	41.7	22.9	45.0	45.5	25.0	43.2	45.8	33.3	61.4	43.8	$10,793	$1,896	$8,897
Contentnea-Savannah School	Public	PK, KG-8	3400 Ferrell Road	Kinston	28501	Lenoir County	Lenoir County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 527-8591	789	55	14.2	99.6%	249 (31.6%)	362 (45.9%)	144 (18.3%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.5%)	39.5	927^th of 1490 public elementary schools	37.8%		33	1046^th of 1505 public elementary schools	30.5%	119	64.4	52.1	60.2	23.9	37.8	31.0	46.6	49.3	48.9	38.2	37.4	30.1	66.7	29.2	$9,328	$1,658	$7,670
Ben D. Quinn Elementary	Public	K-5	4275 M L King Jr Boulevard	New Bern	28562	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 514-6420	312	18	17.4	93.9%	119 (38.1%)	95 (30.4%)	30 (9.6%)	36 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (9.9%)	47.9	783^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	47.4%		61.6	550^th of 1505 public elementary schools	63.5%	233	71.2	39.6	50.0				50.8	52.8	55.8				57.7		$10,815	$1,386	$9,430
Chicod	Public	PK, KG-8	3833 Stokestown-St. John Road	Greenville	27858	Pitt County	Pitt County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 746-6742	902	60	15.1	99.7%	653 (72.4%)	71 (7.9%)	132 (14.6%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (4.3%)	88.7	126^th of 1490 public elementary schools	91.5%		86.9	153^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	89.8%	27	83.3	87.0	87.1	88.2	79.4	78.4	56.5	73.9	80.2	62.4	62.6	75.9	87.1	85.3	$8,818	$645	$8,174
Trenton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1378 Hwy 58 South	Trenton	28585	Jones County	Jones County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 448-3441	153	12	12.6	98.0%	62 (40.5%)	49 (32.0%)	24 (15.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (11.1%)	36.6	972^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.8%		31.8	1066^th of 1505 public elementary schools	29.2%	94	62.5	55.6	40.9				29.2	63.0	50.0				18.2		$16,190	$1,876	$14,314
Oaks Road Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	2811 Oaks Road	New Bern	28560	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 514-6475	352	20	17.2	96.0%	65 (18.5%)	115 (32.7%)	107 (30.4%)	28 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	35 (9.9%)	18.6	1303^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	12.6%		17.8	1313^th of 1505 public elementary schools	12.8%	10	50.0	18.5	51.9				29.5	30.8	44.4				42.6		$11,730	$2,052	$9,678
Trent Park Elementary	Public	K-5	2500 Educational Drive	New Bern	28562	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 514-6481	390	23	17.0	96.2%	73 (18.7%)	120 (30.8%)	61 (15.6%)	84 (21.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	50 (12.8%)	50.7	738^th of 1490 public elementary schools	50.5%		41.3	906^th of 1505 public elementary schools	39.8%	168	63.6	43.2	63.8				47.0	58.1	47.8				68.1		$10,573	$1,532	$9,042
Bridgeton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	230 Branch Canal Road	New Bern	28560	Craven County	Craven County Board of Education	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 514-6425	415	30	14.0	95.2%	257 (61.9%)	62 (14.9%)	53 (12.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (10.1%)	40.5	908^th of 1490 public elementary schools	39.1%		50.9	734^th of 1505 public elementary schools	51.2%	174	60.7	69.4	45.3				45.9	56.5	37.5				42.2		$8,354	$-1,566	$9,920

Frequently Asked Questions about James W Smith Elementary

What district is James W Smith Elementary in?

Craven County Board of Education

Is James W Smith Elementary a good school?

James W Smith Elementary ranks 765^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of James W Smith Elementary?

Students at James W Smith Elementary are 38% White, 35% African American, 18% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of James W Smith Elementary attend?

Students who attend James W Smith Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Craven Middle
High : West Craven High

How many students attend James W Smith Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 325 students attended James W Smith Elementary.

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Schools in Cove City, NC

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.