Average
#1177 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 44% in state
Liberty Middle
Middle School · Burke County Schools · Morganton, NC
A Burke County Schools middle school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
529 Enola Road, Morganton, NC 28655
- Math 65% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Liberty Middle score 59% 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 14 points since 2020, reaching 59% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 58% (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
99.1%
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 Liberty Middle 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 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated926/100K
Powered by
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
$53,464
Median home value
$170,400
Median rent
$827/mo
College educated
20.8%
Homeownership
72.7%
Poverty rate
21.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28655; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North LibertyEnrollment path unverified | 2.9 | PK–12 | 0.1 mi | 71 | Compare → |
| Nc School for the DeafEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–12 | 1.9 mi | 60 | Compare → |
| East Burke MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 667 | Compare → |
| Heritage MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | 6–8 | Not available | 440 | 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.
Burke County Schools
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #12 of 26
- District spending per student
- $12,261NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Liberty Middle is listed in Burke County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Liberty Middle
Liberty Middle is a public middle school in Morganton, NC, part of Burke County Schools, serving approximately 459 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,177 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Liberty Middle
What grades does Liberty Middle serve?
Liberty Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Liberty Middle?
Liberty Middle has an enrollment of approximately 459 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Liberty Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Liberty Middle is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Liberty Middle rank in NC?
Liberty Middle ranks #1,177 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Liberty Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Liberty Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 Liberty Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Liberty Middle has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Liberty Middle a charter school?
No, Liberty Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Liberty Middle a Title I school?
No, Liberty Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Liberty Middle?
99.1% of students at Liberty 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 459
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Burke County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.7%
- Phone
- (828) 437-1330
- Area population (ZIP 28655)
- 56,201
- Area average commute
- 23.5 min
- Area median age
- 43.5
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 28655; 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
Related reading
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