Total enrollment
1,782
-98 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
8 schools in Avery County Schools
North Carolina · 1,782 students · 4 cities
Avery County Schools runs the local public-school system inside North Carolina: 8 K-12 schools serving roughly 1,782 students, with 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high.
4-year change in Avery County Schools
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Avery County Schools ranks
Among districts| Measure | This district | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 48.3% | #66 of 112 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,782 | #103 of 116 | #4,836 of 9,234 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #82 of 116 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #13 of 116 | #4,334 of 9,044 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 97.1% | #69 of 114 | #469 of 8,164 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 33.1% | #101 of 111 | #4,557 of 6,853 |
Districts need at least 2 schools and 500 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.
Inside Avery County Schools
State test results across the district's 7 scored schools run from Banner Elk Elementary at 79.2% proficient to Avery County High at 31.5%, a gap of 47.7 points. That is the 42nd widest gap among 104 North Carolina districts with four or more scored schools.
Since 2017-18, the 8 district schools that reported both years went from 1,827 to 1,782 students (down 2%) and from 146 to 127 full-time teachers (down 13%), as of 2024-25.
Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across each school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25; schools with fewer than 100 students and schools serving specialized populations are left out. Staffing figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data and count only schools that reported students and teachers in both years.
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery County High | Newland | High | 09-12 | 542 |
| Newland Elementary | Newland | Elementary | PK-05 | 214 |
| Cranberry Middle | Elk Park | Middle | 06-08 | 202 |
| Freedom Trail Elementary | Elk Park | Elementary | PK-05 | 202 |
| Crossnore Elementary | Crossnore | Elementary | PK-05 | 184 |
| Avery Middle | Newland | Middle | 06-08 | 181 |
| Banner Elk Elementary | Banner Elk | Elementary | PK-05 | 159 |
| Riverside Elementary | Newland | Elementary | PK-05 | 98 |
About Avery County Schools
Avery County Schools administers 8 public schools across North Carolina, collectively serveing roughly 1,782 students.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Avery County Schools covers 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high school.
Per-school enrollment averages around 223 in this district, meaningfully below the North Carolina typical of 571.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,782 students, contracted 5% from the 1,880 reported in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Avery County Schools discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.