J T Barber Elementary
New Bern, NC 28560
Phone: (252) 514-6460
Fax: (252) 514-6464
District: Craven County School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 239 students
J T Barber Elementary, a public school located in New Bern, NC, serves grades PK-5 in the Craven County School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
J T Barber Elementary is a public school located in New Bern, NC. 239 students attend J T Barber Elementary.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 2/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 North Carolina End-of-Course Tests data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and using 2025 North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. |
| Student Growth | 5/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2024 Student growth data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. |
Worrisome patterns of chronic student absenteeism have been identified.
Posted: March 16, 2026
I love JT Barber, every single staff member cares deeply for the children and push them to be their best. It is also an A+ school of the arts where students integrate arts and core learning.
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: March 16, 2026
Posted: December 10, 2022
Do not send your kids here. Has been a nut show since my son has attended
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: December 10, 2022
Posted: May 24, 2012
I can't speak to the school overall, but the exceptional children pre-k program is incredible. Very loving, positive, effective teachers. I am very pleased with our experience this year. We came after having our son in a local private preschool where they were just unequipped to handle his special needs. He has thrived at JT Barber and we are very pleased! The school itself isn't in the best part of town, but is beautiful on the inside--clean and bright with beautiful bulletin boards. Children are well-behaved in the hallways and seem happy and friendly. Good experience with caring, supportive teachers!!!
Posted: March 23, 2011
The only good thing about this school is the ARTS program. Other than that we have had a horrible experience at JTB. For the first half of this school year our son was failing Science & Social Studies yet none of the teachers had come to us about the problem. When we asked to have conferences with the teachers they always just sent home letters telling us what we could do to help. Parent teacher communication is horrible as well. When we were finally able to meet with the principal after several attempts to resolve the failing issue he leaned back in a chair like we was out having drinks with a friend! JTB is also the school in New Bern that is home to students from ALL over the world. Which is great for them. Im glad they are able to get an education but I also feel that is a big part in this schools problem. Both of my children have kids in their classes that can't speak any English. Therefore, I believe and have seen first hand that the staff is paying more attention to those kids than others. I had very little time to research schools before we moved here from Japan but I am going to do everything I can to get my kids out of this school by next school year!
Posted: November 8, 2010
My Children have had a difficult time here I requested to speak to the principle on four different occasions and was redirected each time to my childrens teacher. My Children have been coming home and speaking ebonics slang or jargon. My children have been coming home and singing "rap Songs", we do not listen to that music in my home. My daughter is failing math. The majority of the kids in this school are pulled from New Bern's housing projects and have proven to be a negative influence on my children.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Bend | Neighborhood/Subdivision | New Bern | NC | 5.7 mi | |
| 2 | Evans Mill | Neighborhood/Subdivision | New Bern | NC | 7.6 mi | |
| 3 | MacDonald Downs | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Havelock | NC | 15.2 mi | |
| 4 | Stonebridge Trail | Area of Town | Havelock | NC | 17.2 mi | |
| 5 | Cherry Branch | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Havelock | NC | 19.8 mi | |
| 6 | Trailwood | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Hubert | NC | 28.2 mi | |
| 7 | Star Hill North | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Cape Carteret | NC | 28.2 mi | |
| 8 | Carolina Estates | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | NC | 28.3 mi | |
| 9 | River Reach | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Swansboro | NC | 28.5 mi | |
| 10 | Country Club Estates | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | NC | 28.9 mi | |
| 11 | Wildflowers | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Richlands | NC | 29 mi | |
| 12 | Carolina Forest | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | NC | 29.1 mi | |
| 13 | Deer Park | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Swansboro | NC | 29.4 mi | |
| 14 | Marsh Harbour | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Cedar Point | NC | 29.6 mi | |
| 15 | Timber Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | NC | 29.8 mi | |
| 16 | Hall Creek - North | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Swansboro | NC | 29.9 mi | |
| 17 | Killis Hills | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Richlands | NC | 30 mi | |
| 18 | The Bluffs on The New River | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | NC | 30.4 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Bern High School Area | New Bern | NC | 3.5 mi | |
| 2 | Piney green | Jacksonville | NC | 29.3 mi | |
| 3 | Cedar Point | Cedar Point | NC | 29.8 mi | |
| 4 | Swansboro, NC | Swansboro | NC | 29.8 mi | |
| 5 | Hubert | Hubert | NC | 29.8 mi | |
| 6 | Swansboro | Swansboro | NC | 29.9 mi | |
| 7 | Downtown Swansboro | Swansboro | NC | 30 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Cherry Point MCAS | 17.5 mi. |
| Camp Lejeune | 34.5 mi. |
| New River MCAS | 35.4 mi. |
| Coast Guard Fort Macon | 36.3 mi. |
| Stone Bay | 46.3 mi. |
