Excellent
#9 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 1% in state
Banner Elk Elementary
Elementary School · Avery County Schools · Banner Elk, NC
An Avery County Schools elementary school where students score 32 points above what's typical for similar communities.
155 Orchard Lane, Banner Elk, NC 28604
- Math 85% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 73% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 12:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Banner Elk Elementary score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 19 points since 2020, reaching 79% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Banner Elk Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Low173/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Banner Elk), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$64,052
Median home value
$319,200
Median rent
$932/mo
College educated
44.1%
Homeownership
76.5%
Poverty rate
9.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28604; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Avery County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossnore ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–5 | Not available | 180 | Compare → |
| Freedom Trail ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 212 | Compare → |
| Newland ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | Not available | 202 | Compare → |
| Riverside ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 108 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Avery County Schools
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #1 of 8
- District spending per student
- $15,513NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Banner Elk Elementary is listed in Avery County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Banner Elk Elementary
Banner Elk Elementary is a public elementary school in Banner Elk, NC, part of Avery County Schools, serving approximately 168 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #9 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Banner Elk Elementary
What grades does Banner Elk Elementary serve?
Banner Elk Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Banner Elk Elementary?
Banner Elk Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 168 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Banner Elk Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Banner Elk Elementary is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Banner Elk Elementary rank in NC?
Banner Elk Elementary ranks #9 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Banner Elk Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Banner Elk Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Banner Elk Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Banner Elk Elementary has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Banner Elk Elementary a charter school?
No, Banner Elk Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Banner Elk Elementary a Title I school?
No, Banner Elk Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Banner Elk Elementary?
98.2% of students at Banner Elk Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 168
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Avery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.9%
- Phone
- (828) 737-5700
- Area population (ZIP 28604)
- 7,280
- Area average commute
- 24.3 min
- Area median age
- 42.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28604; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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