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Very Good

#696 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 26% in state

Heritage Middle

Middle School · Burke County Schools

1951 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690

Enrollment

440

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

7.5

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#696 of 2,648

In Valdese

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#6 of 26

Burke County Schools

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Heritage Middle

7.5/10

Middle School in Valdese · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Burke Virtual Academy

Nearby

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

Valdese Elementary

6.0/10

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

About Heritage Middle

Heritage Middle is a public middle school in Valdese, NC, part of Burke County Schools. Heritage Middle serves approximately 440 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Heritage Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #696 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Heritage Middle show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • District avg 5.9
  • NC avg 5.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.34 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.2Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+7.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.7 pts
Overall Proficiency61% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+14.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile72th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,261
Chronic Absenteeism21.4%

Heritage Middle — Students at Heritage Middle score 61% 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

99.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 61.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.9% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 58.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
94%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
50%
ELA
43%
2013
Math
49%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
53%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
48%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
53%
2017
Math
51%
ELA
56%
2018
Math
53%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
53%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
58%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
58%
2022
Math
62.3%
ELA
60.4%
2025
Math
64.5%
ELA
57%

* 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: 7.0/10.

How Heritage Middle Compares

See how Heritage Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
74th percentile in NC
Academic
8.2/10
Excellent
Growth
7.0/10
Very Good
Environment
7.3/10
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
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
21.4%

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

1951 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Heritage Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Liberty Middle (rated 6.6/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Morganton), with a comparable rating. Another option is Walter R Johnson Middle (rated 4.6/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Morganton), a more accessible option. Additionally, Gamewell Middle (rated 4.4/10, 7.8 miles away, in nearby Lenoir), a more accessible option. For more schools in Valdese, see our Valdese schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Burke Virtual Academy Valdese 0.0 mi
Valdese Elementary Valdese 1.2 mi 6.0
Hallyburton Academy Drexel 1.3 mi 5.5
Drexel Elementary Morganton 1.7 mi 8.0
Jimmy C Draughn High School Valdese 2.1 mi 7.0
CHRIST CLASSICAL ACADEMY Connelly Springs 3.3 mi 4.8
Baton Elementary Granite Falls 4.2 mi 6.0
Hillcrest Elementary Morganton 5.3 mi 4.4
Mull Elementary Morganton 5.8 mi 7.2
North Liberty Morganton 6.1 mi 2.9
Liberty Middle Morganton 6.2 mi 6.6
East Burke High Connelly Springs 6.1 mi 6.1
Robert L. Patton High School Morganton 6.3 mi 7.1
New Dimensions Morganton 6.1 mi 7.1
MORGANTON DAY SCHOOL Morganton 6.2 mi 8.1
Gamewell Elementary Lenoir 7.6 mi 3.7
Walter R Johnson Middle Morganton 6.4 mi 4.6
Gamewell Middle Lenoir 7.8 mi 4.4
Burke Middle College Morganton 6.5 mi 8.2
NC School for the Deaf Morganton 6.5 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28690 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,974

Median Home Value

$185,000

Median Rent

$670/mo

Population

9,294

College Educated

30.7%

Homeownership

80.7%

Avg Commute

22.5 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

51.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Enka Intermediate Candler, NC 7.5
George M. Horton Middle Pittsboro, NC 7.5
North Wilkes Middle School North Wilkesboro, NC 7.5
Camden Middle Camden, NC 7.4
Cane Creek Middle Fletcher, NC 7.6
James E Shepard Middle Durham, NC 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Heritage Middle

What grades does Heritage Middle serve?

Heritage Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Heritage Middle?

Heritage Middle has an enrollment of approximately 440 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Heritage Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Heritage Middle is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Heritage Middle rank in NC?

Heritage Middle ranks #696 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Heritage Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Heritage Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Heritage Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Heritage Middle has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Heritage Middle a charter school?

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

Is Heritage Middle a Title I school?

No, Heritage Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Heritage Middle?

99.3% of students at Heritage Middle 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
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
7 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
440
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Burke County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.4%

District

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

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