Burke County Schools School District
School District · Morganton, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
27
14 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,261
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
27
14 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,261
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
Evaluating Burke County Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Burke County Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Burke Middle College
Morganton · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Mountain View Elementary
Morganton · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Drexel Elementary
Morganton · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#61 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.0
below North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,261
$851 vs North Carolina median
District size
11,690 students
Much larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Burke County Schools ranks #61 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Burke County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.2/10 across 26 schools. Its top-rated schools are Burke Middle College (8.2/10), Mountain View Elementary (8.1/10), and Drexel Elementary (8.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.1/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Burke County Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Burke County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (26 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burke Middle College | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Mountain View Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Drexel Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Salem Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Icard Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Heritage Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Mull Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Robert L. Patton High School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Jimmy C Draughn High School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Glen Alpine Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
See all 27 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Burke County Schools
Burke County Schools is a Morganton, North Carolina school district serving 27 schools. The district educates 11,690 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1. The district invests $12,261 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.2/10, Burke County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Burke Middle College, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Burke County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 54.0% and ELA proficiency of 49.9%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools , 5 middle schools , and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Burke County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Burke County Schools with test data.
Schools in Burke County Schools
27 schools Elementary Schools 14
Middle Schools 5
High Schools 6
Other Schools 2
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Morganton
- Total Enrollment
- 11,690
- Teachers (FTE)
- 745
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools has 27 schools in total — 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Burke County Schools?
The average composite rating for Burke County Schools is 6.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools spends $12,261 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Burke County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Burke County Schools is 15.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Burke County Schools?
Burke Middle College is the highest-rated school in Burke County Schools with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Burke County Schools?
Across schools in Burke County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 49.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Burke County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Burke County Schools has an average school rating of 6.2/10 across 27 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 49.9%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Burke County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
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.
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