Top Rankings
Burke County Schools 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 2026 school year, there are 27 public schools serving 11,667 students in Burke County Schools. 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 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 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
27 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
11,667 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
689 Teachers
96,132 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Burke County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 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 85% has decreased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#144 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)54%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)88%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
6%
5%
% Hispanic
21%
22%
% Black
4%
24%
% White
62%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,695 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,715 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$125 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$125 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,695
$11,168
Spending / Student
$10,715
$11,592
Best Burke County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
Gr: 9-12 | 661 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 874 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: 9-12 | 756 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,299 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 476 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 291 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 295 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 630 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
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
Gr: PK-12 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
1001 Burkemont Ave
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Gr: 11-12 | 130 students Student-teacher ratio: 43:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: n/an/a
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Gr: K-12
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools manages 27 public schools serving 11,667 students.
What is the rank of Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools is ranked #151 out of 314 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?
62% of Burke County Schools 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?
Burke County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Burke County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,715 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
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