Total enrollment
8,547
-251 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Wilkes County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Across all districts in Wilkes County, public schools number 22 and enroll approximately 8,547 K-12 students (13 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high).
4-year change in Wilkes County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
22
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wilkes County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 55.2% | #27 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,547 | #47 of 98 | #906 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #42 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.3:1 | #34 of 98 | #1,879 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.1% | #16 of 98 | #93 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 46.0% | #69 of 94 | #1,255 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.
Wilkes County school rankings
Residents
65,935
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
1 districts
Enrollment
8,547
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,721
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.1%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
13
4,090 students
Middle
4
1,844 students
High
5
2,613 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wilkes County Schools
8,547 students · 1 district in Wilkes County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Wilkes 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+
16.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
46
20.0% under 18
Test scores in Wilkes County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 21 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- North Wilkes High School· 68.9%
- Moravian Falls Elementary School· 68.1%
- East Wilkes Middle School· 60.5%
- C B Eller Elementary School· 59.1%
- Roaring River Elementary School· 58.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes Central High School | Wilkesboro | High | 09-12 | 719 | · |
| Millers Creek Elementary School | Millers Creek | Elementary | PK-05 | 699 | · |
| West Wilkes High School | Millers Creek | High | 09-12 | 582 | · |
| North Wilkes High School | Hays | High | 09-12 | 578 | · |
| Central Wilkes Middle School | Moravian Falls | Middle | 06-08 | 564 | · |
| Mountain View Elementary School | Hays | Elementary | PK-05 | 488 | · |
| North Wilkes Middle School | North Wilkesboro | Middle | 06-08 | 484 | · |
| East Wilkes High School | Ronda | High | 09-12 | 469 | · |
| West Wilkes Middle School | Wilkesboro | Middle | 06-08 | 450 | · |
| Mulberry Elementary School | North Wilkesboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 419 | · |
| Wilkesboro Elementary School | Wilkesboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 405 | · |
| East Wilkes Middle School | Ronda | Middle | 06-08 | 346 | · |
| North Wilkesboro Elementary School | North Wilkesboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 329 | · |
| Ronda-Clingman Elementary School | Ronda | Elementary | PK-05 | 318 | · |
| C C Wright Elementary School | North Wilkesboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 316 | · |
| Wilkes Early College High School | Wilkesboro | High | 09-13 | 265 | · |
| Moravian Falls Elementary School | Moravian Falls | Elementary | PK-05 | 257 | · |
| C B Eller Elementary School | Elkin | Elementary | PK-05 | 248 | · |
| Mount Pleasant Elementary School | Ferguson | Elementary | PK-05 | 237 | · |
| Roaring River Elementary School | Roaring River | Elementary | PK-05 | 190 | · |
| Boomer-Ferguson Elementary School | Boomer | Elementary | KG-05 | 111 | · |
| Traphill Elementary School | Traphill | Elementary | KG-05 | 73 | · |
Cities in Wilkes County
About Wilkes County
Wilkes County is a medium-population county of about 65,935 residents in North Carolina. Its public-school system hosts approximately 8,547 students across 22 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $51,721, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 13%. That income level is 18% below the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Wilkes County consists of 13 elementary schools (4,090 students), 4 middle schools (1,844), and 5 high schools (2,613).
Wilkes County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 8,547 students across Wilkes County.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 3%: 8,798 students in SY 2020-21 versus 8,547 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Wilkes County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data