Summary:
The 28523 zip code is home to a single public elementary school, James W. Smith Elementary, which serves grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 330 students. 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 seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, dropping from 780 out of 1,502 schools in 2022-2023 to 962 out of 1,505 schools in 2023-2024, before improving to 765 out of 1,490 schools in 2024-2025. The school's test scores are mixed, with some areas of strength, such as 3rd grade math and reading, and 5th grade math and science, but also areas of weakness, like 4th grade math and 5th grade reading. Despite the high poverty rate, with 99.09% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school spends a relatively high amount per student ($12,531) and has a low student-teacher ratio (12.7).
Overall, James W. Smith Elementary appears to be a high-poverty school with some areas of academic strength and some areas needing improvement. The school's performance and ranking within the state seem to fluctuate, indicating a need for more consistent and sustained academic progress. Further analysis of the school's specific strategies, resources, and challenges could provide more insight into how to best support student achievement.
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