Top Rankings
Avery County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 7 public elementary schools serving 1,240 students in Avery County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Avery County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
8 Schools
2,146 Schools
# Students
1,782 Students
1,094,560 Students
# Teachers
127 Teachers
71,669 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Avery County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#123 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)55%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
69%
63%
Graduation Rate
87%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)22.1%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.33
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
17%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
1%
24%
Showing 2001–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
80%
42%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,310 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,609 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has declined by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$31 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$17,310
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$17,609
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Avery County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Banner Elk Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
155 Orchard Lane
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Gr: PK-5 | 159 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Crossnore Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Walt Clark Road
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 737-7204
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 737-7204
Gr: PK-5 | 184 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Freedom Trail Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6110 North Us Hwy 19e
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Gr: PK-5 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #44.
Cranberry Middle School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6230 North Us Highway 19e
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Gr: 6-8 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #55.
Newland Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
750 Linville Street
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-4911
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-4911
Gr: PK-5 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Avery Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
102 Old Montezuma Road
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-0145
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-0145
Gr: 6-8 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #77.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8020 Us 19e Hwy South
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5600
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5600
Gr: PK-5 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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