Best Schools in Morganton, North Carolina
21 schools · 12 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Morganton?
Use this page to compare every school in Morganton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Hillcrest Elementary
Elementary · Burke County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Robert L. Patton High School
High · Burke County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Table Rock Middle
Middle · Burke County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Morganton for 2026 are Hillcrest Elementary (8.0/10), Robert L. Patton High School (7.9/10), and Table Rock Middle (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
21
18 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$170,400
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
21
18 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$170,400
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.0/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Morganton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Morganton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Morganton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 18 rated schools; 21 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillcrest Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Robert L. Patton High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Table Rock Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Walter R Johnson Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Burke Middle College | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Glen Alpine Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Salem Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | New Dimensions | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Mull Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | W a Young Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $53,464
- Median home value
- $170,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Morganton compares
North Carolina rank
#125 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$53k
79% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
21
Burke County Schools runs 89% of Morganton's public schools
Morganton touches 3 districts, but Burke County Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Burke County Schools accounts for 16 of 18 public schools (89%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 18 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Morganton, not a citywide average.
- Burke County Schools16 public · 89%
- Deaf and Blind Schools1 public · 6%
- The New Dimensions School1 public · 6%
About Schools in Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton's public school system spans 18 ranked schools with a citywide average rating of 6.5 out of 10. That average signals a mid-tier district overall, but the internal spread is where the real story is. Seven of the 18 schools — 39% — score 7 or higher, meaning nearly four in ten schools deliver demonstrably above-average results. The performance range extends from the city floor all the way up to an 8.8, so where a family lands within Morganton's boundaries matters considerably.
The elementary tier concentrates the city's strongest performance. Mull Elementary leads all 18 ranked schools with an 8.8 rating — the highest score in the city. W A Young Elementary (8.1) and Glen Alpine Elementary (8.0) follow closely, and Hillcrest Elementary rounds out a strong cluster at 7.7. That puts four elementary schools above the 7-point threshold, with three of them clearing 8.0. Parents focused on the early grades have a genuine set of high-performing public schools to evaluate and compare.
The middle school landscape is less crowded with data, but Liberty Middle holds its own at 7.5. That score sits well above the city average of 6.5 and places it firmly in the top-performing tier. Families tracking a path from the strong elementary options into middle school have at least one competitive public option waiting at that transition.
For parents researching Morganton, the practical action is clear: school quality varies meaningfully across the city, but the best schools are accessible to families who plan around boundaries. Checking address eligibility for Mull Elementary or W A Young early — before settling on a neighborhood — is the highest-leverage move available. Both schools clear 8.0, both are public, and both represent outcomes well above what the city average alone would suggest.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 258 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 305 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 3 | 436 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 556 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 280 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 6 | 293 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 7 | 291 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 8 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 730 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 478 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
Show all 12 elementary schools in Morganton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 454 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 439 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 459 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 753 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 131 students · 11th–12th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 1,374 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 71 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Learning CenterPrivate 40 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Morganton
Morganton, North Carolina · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$53,464
Median Home Value
$170,400
Median Rent
$827/mo
Population
56,201
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
21.2%
Community Profile
Morganton has a median household income of $53,464. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $170,400, with a median rent of $827/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Morganton, North Carolina
How many schools are in Morganton, North Carolina?
Morganton has 21 schools, including 18 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Morganton, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Morganton is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Morganton, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Morganton on MySchoolScout is Hillcrest Elementary with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Morganton, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Morganton on MySchoolScout is Hillcrest Elementary with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Morganton, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Morganton on MySchoolScout is Table Rock Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Morganton, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Morganton on MySchoolScout is Robert L. Patton High School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Morganton, North Carolina?
Morganton is served by 3 school districts: The New Dimensions School, Deaf and Blind Schools, Burke County Schools.
What is the education level in Morganton, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 21% of adults in Morganton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Morganton, North Carolina?
The median household income in Morganton is approximately $53,464 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Morganton, North Carolina?
Yes, Morganton has 3 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is Morganton Day School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Morganton, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Morganton is 14.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Morganton, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.