Very Good
#1006 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 38% in state
Wilkes Central High School
High School · Wilkes County Schools · Wilkesboro, NC
A Wilkes County Schools high school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1179 Moravian Falls Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
- Math 70% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 55% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 86.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Wilkes Central High School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2019, reaching 62% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.6%
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 Wilkes Central High School 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 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 12Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,641/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wilkesboro), 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
$55,217
Median home value
$190,700
Median rent
$763/mo
College educated
23.5%
Homeownership
68.2%
Poverty rate
15.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28697; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Time Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.7private | PK–12 | 3.5 mi | 95 | Compare → |
| East Wilkes High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 9–12 | Not available | 489 | Compare → |
| North Wilkes High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 9–12 | Not available | 600 | Compare → |
| West Wilkes High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | 9–12 | Not available | 614 | Compare → |
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.
Wilkes County Schools
- Schools in district
- 22
- Rank in district
- #11 of 22
- District spending per student
- $12,150NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Wilkes Central High School is listed in Wilkes County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wilkes Central High School
Wilkes Central High School is a public high school in Wilkesboro, NC, part of Wilkes County Schools, serving approximately 737 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,006 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wilkes Central High School
What grades does Wilkes Central High School serve?
Wilkes Central High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Wilkes Central High School?
Wilkes Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 737 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilkes Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilkes Central High School 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 Wilkes Central High School rank in NC?
Wilkes Central High School ranks #1,006 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Wilkes Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Wilkes Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Wilkes Central High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wilkes Central High School has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Wilkes Central High School a charter school?
No, Wilkes Central High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wilkes Central High School a Title I school?
No, Wilkes Central High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wilkes Central High School?
99.6% of students at Wilkes Central High School 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
- 737
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Wilkes County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.6%
- Phone
- (336) 667-5277
- 4-Year Graduation
- 86.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28697)
- 13,412
- Area average commute
- 22.7 min
- Area median age
- 42.9
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 28697; 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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