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6.1avg / 10

Wilkes County Schools School District

School District · North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Students: 8,625
Teachers (FTE): 562

Avg Rating

6.1

out of 10

Schools

22

13 elem, 4 mid, 5 high

Enrollment

8,625

Student-Teacher Ratio

15.3:1

How this district compares

North Carolina rank

#70 of 116

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.2

below North Carolina avg

Per-pupil spending

$12,150

$962 vs North Carolina median

District size

8,625 students

Larger than North Carolina median

The short answer

Wilkes County Schools ranks #70 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Wilkes County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.1/10 across 22 schools. Its top-rated schools are Roaring River Elementary School (8.9/10), Wilkes Central High School (7.7/10), and North Wilkes High School (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Central Wilkes Middle School

STAAR proficiency rose +16.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Wilkes County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Wilkes County Schools

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (22 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1Roaring River Elementary School8.9 / 10
2Wilkes Central High School7.7 / 10
3North Wilkes High School7.6 / 10
4East Wilkes Middle School7.6 / 10
5Traphill Elementary School7.6 / 10
6West Wilkes High School7.4 / 10
7Boomer-Ferguson Elementary School7.1 / 10
8Central Wilkes Middle School7.0 / 10
9Wilkes Early College High School7.0 / 10
10C C Wright Elementary School6.4 / 10

See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Wilkes County Schools

Wilkes County Schools is a North Wilkesboro, North Carolina school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 8,625 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1. District-level spending was $12,150 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 6.1/10, Wilkes County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Roaring River Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.

In standardized testing, Wilkes County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 57.9% and ELA proficiency of 52.9%.

The district includes 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Wilkes County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency57.9%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency52.9%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Wilkes County Schools with test data.

District Details

State
North Carolina
City
North Wilkesboro
Total Enrollment
8,625
Teachers (FTE)
562
District spending per student
$12,150NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
20.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Wilkes County Schools?

Wilkes County Schools has 22 schools in total — 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Wilkes County Schools?

The average composite rating for Wilkes County Schools is 6.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Wilkes County Schools?

Wilkes County Schools's district-level spending was $12,150 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Wilkes County Schools?

The average student-teacher ratio in Wilkes County Schools is 15.3:1.

What is the top-rated school in Wilkes County Schools?

Roaring River Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Wilkes County Schools with a composite score of 8.9/10.

What are the test scores in Wilkes County Schools?

Across schools in Wilkes County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 57.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Wilkes County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?

Wilkes County Schools has an average school rating of 6.1/10 across 22 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
6.1/10
Math Proficiency
57.9%
ELA Proficiency
52.9%

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 rate

Other School Districts in NC

Compare Wilkes County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in NC →

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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