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Burke County Schools Schools
Burke County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina, based in Burke County (Morganton). SchoolGrade grades 26 of its schools on actual versus projected test scores; every school below has its own page.
Burke County Schools on the map
District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Each marker is a graded school; click it for its grade and scores.
SchoolGrade summary for Burke County Schools
26 of 26 schools in Burke County Schools carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:
A: 2B: 14C: 3D: 6F: 1
Best schools in Burke County Schools
Statewide rankings: all 608 high schools in North Carolina · all 453 middle schools in North Carolina · all 1409 elementary schools in North Carolina
The ten highest SchoolGrades in the district. Grades reward actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact.
- A Burke Middle College (High school, meets expectations)
- A George Hildebrand Elementary (Elementary school, greatly exceeds expectations)
- B+ Salem Elementary (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
- B+ Heritage Middle (Middle school, meets expectations)
- B+ Liberty Middle (Middle school, meets expectations)
- B Mull Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
- B Glen Alpine Elementary (Elementary school, doesn't meet expectations)
- B Ray Childers Elementary (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
- B Valdese Elementary (Elementary school, doesn't meet expectations)
- B East Burke High (High school, meets expectations)
Every school in Burke County Schools
High schools (4)
- B East Burke High, Connelly Springs
- C- Freedom High, Morganton
- B Jimmy C Draughn High School, Valdese
- B- Robert L Patton High School, Morganton
Middle and junior high schools (6)
- A Burke Middle College, Morganton
- B- East Burke Middle, Connelly Springs
- B+ Heritage Middle, Valdese
- B+ Liberty Middle, Morganton
- C+ Table Rock Middle, Morganton
- D+ Walter R Johnson Middle, Morganton
Elementary and primary schools (14)
- B- Drexel Elementary, Morganton
- D+ Forest Hill Elementary, Morganton
- A George Hildebrand Elementary, Connelly Springs
- B Glen Alpine Elementary, Morganton
- B- Hildebran Elementary, Hildebran
- D Hillcrest Elementary, Morganton
- B- Icard Elementary, Connelly Springs
- D+ Mountain View Elementary, Morganton
- B Mull Elementary, Morganton
- C- Oak Hill Elementary, Morganton
- B Ray Childers Elementary, Hickory
- B+ Salem Elementary, Morganton
- B Valdese Elementary, Valdese
- D+ W A Young Elementary, Morganton
Other schools and academies (2)
- F Hallyburton Academy, Drexel
- D- North Liberty, Morganton
Where Burke County Schools schools are
About this district
- State: Best schools in North Carolina
- County: Burke County
- Type: regular local school district
- Setting: midsize suburb (NCES locale of the district office)
- Enrollment: 11,690 students with 745 full-time-equivalent teachers and 1,470 total staff FTE (NCES CCD, 2023-24)
- NCES district ID: 3700480
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model: each school's actual proficiency against the level projected for its student context. How SchoolGrade works
Nearby school districts
- Caldwell County Schools (24 schools, 19 mi)
- McDowell County Schools (15 schools, 20 mi)
- Hickory City Schools (9 schools, 20 mi)
- Avery County Schools (8 schools, 25 mi)
- Rutherford County Schools (18 schools, 27 mi)
- Newton Conover City Schools (7 schools, 28 mi)
- Catawba County Schools (28 schools, 29 mi)
- Cleveland County Schools (28 schools, 30 mi)
Questions about Burke County Schools
How many schools are in Burke County Schools?
SchoolGrade grades 26 public schools in Burke County Schools, across 6 cities and towns. Every one of them is listed on this page with a link to its own report.
Which cities does Burke County Schools serve?
The largest by graded schools: Morganton, Connelly Springs, Valdese, Drexel, Hickory and 1 more.
How good are the schools in Burke County Schools?
Across the 26 graded schools, the average SchoolGrade is C+, with 54.5% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 52.1%. 38% of schools meet or exceed the expectation for their student context.
How many students attend Burke County Schools?
11,690 students were enrolled in Burke County Schools in the 2023-24 school year, about 15.7 students per full-time teacher (NCES Common Core of Data).
Where is Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools is in North Carolina, based in Burke County, with its district office in Morganton. Its boundary covers about 506 sq mi.