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 high schools serving 3,980 students in Burke County Schools. 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 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 have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Jimmy C Draughn High School, 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
758 Schools
# Students
11,690 Students
565,236 Students
# Teachers
742 Teachers
33,421 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Burke County Schools, 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 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
0.57
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
6%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
20%
% Black
4%
24%
% White
62%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,673 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,694 is less than the state median of $11,617. 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
$10,673
$11,192
Spending / Student
$10,694
$11,617
Best Burke County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-12 | 656 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
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 | 868 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 753 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
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 | 1,374 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
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
Gr: PK-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
1001 Burkemont Ave
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Gr: 11-12 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 44:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: n/an/a
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Gr: K-12 | 25 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
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