Best Schools in Burke County, NC
Burke County, NC has 57 public schools (13 high, 11 middle, 27 elementary) serving 25,538 students. On average they score 55% on state proficiency tests against a projected 51%, so schools in Burke County don't meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Burke County, NC
The top high schools in Burke County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Burke Middle College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 11 - 12 • 119 Students
2. Rutherford Early College High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rutherford County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 191 Students
3. West Lincoln High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 756 Students
4. Jimmy C Draughn High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 682 Students
5. East Burke High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 879 Students
6. Fred T Foard High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 956 Students
7. Robert L. Patton High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 752 Students
8. Burns High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cleveland County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 934 Students
9. Freedom High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1414 Students
10. Mcdowell High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mcdowell County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1416 Students
Best Middle Schools in Burke County, NC
The top middle schools in Burke County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Jacobs Fork Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 440 Students
2. Heritage Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 453 Students
3. Liberty Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 457 Students
4. West Lincoln Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 554 Students
5. East Burke Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 645 Students
6. Table Rock Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 502 Students
7. Burns Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cleveland County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 734 Students
8. West Mcdowell Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mcdowell County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 605 Students
9. Grandview Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hickory City Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 400 Students
10. Walter R Johnson Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 465 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Burke County, NC
The top elementary schools in Burke County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Casar Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cleveland County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 278 Students
2. George Hildebrand Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 318 Students
3. Mountain View Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 686 Students
4. Salem Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 401 Students
5. Sunshine Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rutherford County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 190 Students
6. North Brook Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 364 Students
7. Mull Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 258 Students
8. Glen Alpine Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 279 Students
9. New Dimensions
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
The New Dimensions School • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 535 Students
10. Ray Childers Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 457 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Burke County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Burke County, NC has a total population of 87,570 with 20% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 85%, and 21% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Burke County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Burke County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
17.35 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.30 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
14.05 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Burke County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Burke County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Burke County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Burke County, NC
How many schools are in Burke County, NC?
Burke County, NC has 57 public schools: 13 high schools, 11 middle schools and 27 elementary schools, serving 25,538 students in total.
How do schools in Burke County perform on state tests?
On average, 57 schools in Burke County score 55% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 51%, so on average schools in Burke County don't meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Burke County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Burke County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 62%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Burke County
5 places in Burke County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (5)
- Morganton (17)
- Connelly Springs (4)
- Valdese (3)
- Drexel (1)
- Hildebran (1)
School districts (1)
- Burke County Schools (26 schools)