Top Rankings
Wilkes County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 2,668 students in Wilkes County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Wilkes County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 84% (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 Wilkes County School have a Graduation Rate of 88%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Wilkes High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 25% 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
22 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
8,599 Students
565,236 Students
# Teachers
555 Teachers
33,421 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Wilkes 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 88% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#108 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)59%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)88%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.45
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
17%
20%
% Black
3%
24%
% White
72%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,514 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,274 is less than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$99 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$97 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,514
$11,192
Spending / Student
$11,274
$11,617
Best Wilkes County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wilkes Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1328 S Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6247
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6247
Gr: 9-13 | 228 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #22.
Wilkes Central High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1179 Moravian Falls Rd
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 667-5277
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 667-5277
Gr: 9-12 | 737 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
West Wilkes High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6598 Boone Trail
Millers Creek, NC 28651
(336) 903-6710
Millers Creek, NC 28651
(336) 903-6710
Gr: 9-12 | 614 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #44.
East Wilkes High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
13315 Elkin Hwy 268
Ronda, NC 28670
(336) 651-7200
Ronda, NC 28670
(336) 651-7200
Gr: 9-12 | 489 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #55.
North Wilkes High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2986 Traphill Rd
Hays, NC 28635
(336) 903-4040
Hays, NC 28635
(336) 903-4040
Gr: 9-12 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
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