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 8 public high schools serving 3,980 students in Burke County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Burke County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 70% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Burke County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Burke Middle College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
27 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
11,690 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
742 Teachers
33,453 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
0.70
# American Indian Students
12 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
665 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
6%
4%
# Hispanic Students
2,418 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
20%
# Black Students
456 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
4%
24%
# White Students
7,244 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
62%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
38 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
857 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
416
491
# Students in K Grade:
776
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
827
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
833
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
792
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
834
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
813
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
803
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
850
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
856
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,009
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,011
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
976
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
894
104,750
# 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 High 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.
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: #66.
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
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