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Excellent

#400 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 15% in state

Drexel Elementary

Elementary School · Burke County Schools

100 Alta Vista Street, Morganton, NC 28655

Enrollment

478

Student-Teacher

15.4:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#400 of 2,648

In Morganton

#3 of 18

public schools

In district

#3 of 26

Burke County Schools

Academic growth

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Drexel Elementary

8.0/10

Elementary School in Morganton · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Hallyburton Academy

5.5/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Heritage Middle

7.5/10

1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Drexel Elementary

Drexel Elementary is a public elementary school in Morganton, NC, part of Burke County Schools. Drexel Elementary serves approximately 478 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Drexel Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #400 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Drexel Elementary show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).

How it compares1.6 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.4
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.41 pts/yr
Data Period2010–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency55.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.5% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-8.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.9 pts
Overall Proficiency53% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+6.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,261
Chronic Absenteeism18.2%

Drexel Elementary — Students at Drexel Elementary score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 54.7% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 49.2% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 34 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2010
Math
88%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
34%
ELA
37%
2013
Math
32%
ELA
41%
2014
Math
35%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
45%
ELA
41%
2016
Math
54%
ELA
44%
2017
Math
60%
ELA
44%
2018
Math
53%
ELA
51%
2019
Math
53%
ELA
51%
2020*
Math
49%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
49%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
69.6%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
55.2%
ELA
50.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.8/10.

How Drexel Elementary Compares

See how Drexel Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
85th percentile in NC
Academic
6.9/10
Average
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

100 Alta Vista Street, Morganton, NC 28655

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Drexel Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MORGANTON DAY SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 4.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Mountain View Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 5.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Salem Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 6.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Morganton, see our Morganton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Hallyburton Academy Drexel 0.5 mi 5.5
Heritage Middle Valdese 1.7 mi 7.5
Burke Virtual Academy Valdese 1.7 mi
Valdese Elementary Valdese 2.4 mi 6.0
Hillcrest Elementary Morganton 3.7 mi 4.4
Jimmy C Draughn High School Valdese 3.8 mi 7.0
Mull Elementary Morganton 4.2 mi 7.2
North Liberty Morganton 4.5 mi 2.9
Liberty Middle Morganton 4.5 mi 6.6
Robert L. Patton High School Morganton 4.7 mi 7.1
MORGANTON DAY SCHOOL Morganton 4.5 mi 8.1
New Dimensions Morganton 4.7 mi 7.1
CHRIST CLASSICAL ACADEMY Connelly Springs 4.7 mi 4.8
Burke Middle College Morganton 4.8 mi 8.2
NC School for the Deaf Morganton 4.8 mi 5.6
Walter R Johnson Middle Morganton 5.1 mi 4.6
Mountain View Elementary Morganton 5.2 mi 8.1
Baton Elementary Granite Falls 5.8 mi 6.0
Forest Hill Elementary Morganton 5.3 mi 3.9
Salem Elementary Morganton 6.4 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28655 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$53,464

Median Home Value

$170,400

Median Rent

$827/mo

Population

56,201

College Educated

20.8%

Homeownership

72.7%

Avg Commute

23.5 min

Poverty Rate

21.2%

Median Age

43.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Ayden Elementary Ayden, NC 8.0
Beaufort Elementary Beaufort, NC 8.0
Charles H. Parker Academic Center Charlotte, NC 8.0
Dixon Road Elementary Willow Spring, NC 8.0
Frederick Douglass Elementary Wilson, NC 8.0
Heritage Elementary Wake Forest, NC 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Drexel Elementary

What grades does Drexel Elementary serve?

Drexel Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Drexel Elementary?

Drexel Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 478 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Drexel Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Drexel Elementary is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Drexel Elementary rank in NC?

Drexel Elementary ranks #400 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Drexel Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Drexel Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Drexel Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Drexel Elementary has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).

Is Drexel Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Drexel Elementary a Title I school?

No, Drexel Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Drexel Elementary?

99.4% of students at Drexel 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
16 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
17 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
478
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Burke County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

District

Burke County Schools
District Enrollment
11,690
Schools in District
27
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,261
District Rank
#3 of 26

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