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 8 public middle schools serving 2,571 students in Burke County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Burke County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), 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 middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
27 Schools
875 Schools
# Students
11,667 Students
497,279 Students
# Teachers
689 Teachers
31,075 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
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
6%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
21%
% Black
4%
25%
% White
62%
43%
% 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 Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Gr: K-12
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