Total enrollment
12,300
+113 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Burke County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Burke County serves about 12,360 K-12 students across 30 public schools, an average of roughly 412 students per school. By grade band, the county runs 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Burke County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
28
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Burke County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 53.6% | #37 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 12,360 | #33 of 98 | #696 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 29 | #26 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.1:1 | #55 of 98 | #2,089 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 95.7% | #52 of 98 | #189 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 54.8% | #59 of 94 | #855 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Burke County school rankings
Residents
87,795
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
30
4 districts
Enrollment
12,360
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$58,592
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
95.7%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
15
5,945 students
Middle
5
2,426 students
High
6
3,793 students
Combined / other
4
196 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Burke County Schools
11,667 students · 4 districts in Burke County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Burke County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
21.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
45
18.4% under 18
Test scores in Burke County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 23 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- East Burke High· 67.1%
- George Hildebrand Elementary· 64.1%
- Patton High School· 63.6%
- Draughn High School· 60.7%
- Heritage Middle· 56.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Walter R Johnson Middle· 34.6%
- Mountain View Elementary· 37.3%
- Forest Hill Elementary· 37.8%
- Hillcrest Elementary· 37.8%
- Freedom High· 41.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Morganton | High | 09-12 | 1,299 | · |
| East Burke High | Connelly Springs | High | 09-12 | 874 | · |
| Mountain View Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 762 | · |
| Patton High School | Morganton | High | 09-12 | 756 | · |
| Draughn High School | Valdese | High | 09-12 | 661 | · |
| East Burke Middle | Connelly Springs | Middle | 06-08 | 630 | · |
| New Dimensions | Morganton | Elementary | KG-08 | 569 | · |
| Valdese Elementary | Valdese | Elementary | PK-05 | 530 | · |
| Drexel Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 477 | · |
| Salem Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 476 | · |
| Heritage Middle | Valdese | Middle | 06-08 | 475 | · |
| Ray Childers Elementary | Hickory | Elementary | PK-05 | 460 | · |
| Liberty Middle | Morganton | Middle | 06-08 | 453 | · |
| Walter R Johnson Middle | Morganton | Middle | 06-08 | 441 | · |
| Table Rock Middle | Morganton | Middle | 06-08 | 427 | · |
| George Hildebrand Elementary | Connelly Springs | Elementary | PK-05 | 327 | · |
| W A Young Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 327 | · |
| Oak Hill Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 310 | · |
| Forest Hill Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 305 | · |
| Hildebran Elementary | Hildebran | Elementary | PK-05 | 297 | · |
| Glen Alpine Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 295 | · |
| Mull Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 291 | · |
| Icard Elementary | Connelly Springs | Elementary | PK-05 | 265 | · |
| Hillcrest Elementary | Morganton | Elementary | PK-05 | 254 | · |
| Burke Middle College | Morganton | High | 11-12 | 130 | · |
| Hallyburton Academy | Drexel | High | 06-12 | 73 | · |
| North Liberty | Morganton | Combined | PK-12 | 72 | · |
| NC School for the Deaf | Morganton | Combined | PK-12 | 64 | · |
| NC School for the Deaf | Morganton | Combined | PK-12 | 60 | · |
| Burke Virtual Academy | Valdese | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Burke County
About Burke County
Across the mid-sized North Carolina county of Burke County of about 87,795 residents, the public-school footprint covers 30 schools and about 12,360 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $58,592 a year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 7% lower than the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Burke County comprises 15 elementary schools (5,945 students), 5 middle schools (2,426), 6 high schools (3,793), and 4 combined or other schools.
Burke County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 11,667 students across Burke County.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Burke County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 12,187 students to 12,300.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Burke County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data