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Burke County Schools School District

700 East Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Burke County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 8 public middle schools serving 2,657 students in Burke County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Middle Schools in Burke County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
27 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
11,690 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
742 Teachers
31,644 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Burke County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has decreased from 88% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#144 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(21-22)
54%
51%
50%
50%
66%
63%
(21-22)
88%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
6%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
20%
% Black
4%
25%
% White
62%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,673 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,694 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$125 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$125 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,673
$11,187
Spending / Student
$10,694
$11,612

Best Burke County Schools School District ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1951 Enon Road
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0731
Gr: 6-8 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
East Burke Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3519 Miller Bridge Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-7446
Gr: 6-8 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
529 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1330
Gr: 6-8 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
Table Rock Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1585 Nc 126
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5212
Gr: 6-8 | 454 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #55.
Walter R Johnson Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
701 Lenoir Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-7340
Gr: 6-8 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #66.
North Liberty
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
523 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Gr: PK-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #77.
Hallyburton Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
205 South Main Street
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Gr: 6-12 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
Burke Virtual Academy
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Gr: K-12 | 25 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 27 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 11,690 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 38%
  • : 88% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 54% (Top 50%)
  • : 50% (Btm 50%)
  • : 66% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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