Top Rankings
Burke County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 27 public schools serving 11,690 students in Burke County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Burke County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
27 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
11,690 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
742 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Burke County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 88% has increased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#144 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
88%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.57
0.71
# American Indian Students
12 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
665 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
6%
4%
# Hispanic Students
2,418 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
21%
# Black Students
456 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
4%
25%
# White Students
7,244 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
62%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
38 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
857 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
416
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
776
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
827
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
833
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
792
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
834
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
813
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
803
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
850
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
856
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,009
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,011
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
976
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
894
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,673 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,694 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$125 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$125 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,673
$11,187
Spending / Student
$10,694
$11,612
Best Burke County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Jimmy C Draughn High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
709 Lovelady Road Ne
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 879-4200
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 879-4200
Grades: 9-12
| 656 students
Rank: #22.
East Burke High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3695 East Burke Boulevard
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-5541
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-5541
Grades: 9-12
| 868 students
Rank: #33.
Robert L. Patton High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
701 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-3000
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-3000
Grades: 9-12
| 753 students
Rank: #44.
Freedom High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
511 Independence Boulevard
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1310
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1310
Grades: 9-12
| 1,374 students
Rank: #55.
Icard Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3087 Icard School Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Grades: PK-5
| 252 students
Rank: #66.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1951 Enon Road
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0731
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0731
Grades: 6-8
| 440 students
Rank: #77.
Salem Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1329 Salem Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Grades: PK-5
| 436 students
Rank: #88.
Drexel Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
100 Alta Vista Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Rank: #99.
Mull Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1140 Old Nc 18 South
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Grades: PK-5
| 280 students
Rank: #1010.
Glen Alpine Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
302 London Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Grades: PK-5
| 305 students
Rank: #1111.
East Burke Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3519 Miller Bridge Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-7446
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-7446
Grades: 6-8
| 667 students
Rank: #1212.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
529 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1330
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1330
Grades: 6-8
| 459 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
George Hildebrand Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8078 G Hildebrand Sch Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
W A Young Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
325 Conley Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #1515.
Valdese Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
298 Praley Street
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Grades: PK-5
| 524 students
Rank: #1616.
Ray Childers Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1183 Cape Hickory Road
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-1340
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-1340
Grades: PK-5
| 447 students
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Hildebran Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
703 Us Hwy 70 West
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Grades: PK-5
| 295 students
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Table Rock Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1585 Nc 126
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5212
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5212
Grades: 6-8
| 454 students
Rank: #1919.
Oak Hill Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2363 Nc 181
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #2020.
Forest Hill Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
304 Ann Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Grades: PK-5
| 291 students
Rank: #2121.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
805 Bouchelle St
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Grades: PK-5
| 730 students
Rank: #2222.
Walter R Johnson Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
701 Lenoir Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-7340
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-7340
Grades: 6-8
| 439 students
Rank: #2323.
Hillcrest Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
201 Tennessee Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Grades: PK-5
| 258 students
Rank: #2424.
North Liberty
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
523 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Grades: PK-12
| 71 students
Rank: #2525.
Hallyburton Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
205 South Main Street
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Grades: 6-12
| 102 students
Rank: n/an/a
1001 Burkemont Ave
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Grades: 11-12
| 131 students
Rank: n/an/a
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Grades: K-12
| 25 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Burke County Schools School District?
Burke County Schools School District manages 27 public schools serving 11,690 students.
What is the rank of Burke County Schools School District?
Burke County Schools School District is ranked #150 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Burke County Schools School District?
62% of Burke County Schools School District students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Asian, and 4% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Burke County Schools School District?
Burke County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Burke County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,694 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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