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#1432 of 2,648 schools in NC

Burns High

High School · Cleveland County Schools · Lawndale, NC

A Cleveland County Schools high school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.

307 E Stagecoach Trail, Lawndale, NC 28090

  • Math 48% vs NC 56% (2025)
  • Reading 56% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • 89.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.5Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.73 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.3% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-7.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.7 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+5.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
College Readiness6.6Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate89%
AP Participation12.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.2:1
District spending per student$12,540
Chronic Absenteeism31.9%

Students at Burns High score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency48%(2025 NC)
School
State
56%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency56%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2019, reaching 52% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
68%
ELA
64%
2010
Math
81%
ELA
68%
2011
Math
84%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
20%
ELA
50%
2013
Math
40%
ELA
56%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
41%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
46%
2017
Math
1%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
33%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
33%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
59%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
59%
2025
Math
48%
ELA
56%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (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 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

99%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Burns High 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 10Car-Dependent
  • Bike 21Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Average637/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$52,224

Median home value

$140,200

Median rent

$680/mo

College educated

19.3%

Homeownership

73.1%

Poverty rate

15.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28090; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
12.8% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·27 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Charity Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition4.8privateK–122.5 mi40Compare →
Cleveland InnovationEnrollment path unverified7.0K–12Not available164Compare →
Crest HighEnrollment path unverified6.69–12Not available1,101Compare →
Kings Mountain HighEnrollment path unverified6.69–12Not available1,317Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Cleveland County Schools

Schools in district
28
Rank in district
#15 of 28
District spending per student
$12,540NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
18.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

Burns High is listed in Cleveland County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Burns High

Burns High is a public high school in Lawndale, NC, part of Cleveland County Schools, serving approximately 922 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,432 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Burns High

What grades does Burns High serve?

Burns High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Burns High?

Burns High has an enrollment of approximately 922 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Burns High?

The student-teacher ratio at Burns High is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Burns High rank in NC?

Burns High ranks #1,432 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Burns High's MySchoolScout rating?

Burns High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 Burns High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Burns High has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Burns High a charter school?

No, Burns High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Burns High a Title I school?

No, Burns High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Burns High?

99.0% of students at Burns High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
922
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Cleveland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.9%
4-Year Graduation
89.0%
Area population (ZIP 28090)
7,422
Area average commute
30.3 min
Area median age
43.3
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 28090; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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