Schools in Zip Code 28562

Zip code 28562 in New Bern, North Carolina has nine public schools serving roughly 4,582 students from pre-K through grade 12: five elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools, and one alternative/virtual school. Eight belong to the Craven County Board of Education (ranked 142nd of 246 North Carolina districts), while Riverside Leadership Academy operates as its own district. Performance varies dramatically — from elite 5-star schools in the top 5–7% of the state to schools in the bottom third — so school selection matters greatly.

The clear standouts are Craven Early College High and Creekside Elementary. Craven Early College High ranks #34 of 662 high schools (95th percentile, 5 stars) with near-universal EOC proficiency: 96.3% in Biology and English II, 85.0% in Math I, 100% in Math III, and a 92.1% graduation rate. Creekside Elementary ranks #108 of 1,492 elementary schools (93rd percentile, 5 stars), with 5th grade math and science proficiency of 90.0% and 93.3% — roughly 27 and 26 points above the state — and chronic absenteeism of just 7.6%. Albert H. Bangert Elementary also stands out: it sits in the 82nd percentile with 4 stars despite a 98.9% free/reduced lunch rate. H. J. MacDonald Middle, the only traditional middle school, ranks in the 54th percentile and has improved for three straight years.

The contrasts are stark even within this zip code. New Bern High, the large comprehensive high school with 1,637 students, ranks in the 30th percentile, graduates just 81.8% of students, and has 26.4% chronic absenteeism. Creekside Elementary and Trent Park Elementary sit only miles apart, yet Creekside outperforms Trent Park by roughly 40 points in 5th grade math (90.0% vs. 48.6%) and reading. In middle grades, H. J. MacDonald Middle is stronger in math, while Riverside Leadership Academy posts better 6th and 7th grade reading scores. Craven Virtual Academy, an alternative credit-recovery school, has a 52.0% graduation rate and cannot be compared fairly with traditional schools. Overall, 28562 offers excellent elementary options and a great early-college high school, but secondary families should evaluate carefully.