For the 2025 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 11,859 students in Burke County, NC (there are 6 private schools, serving 590 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in Burke County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Burke County, NC are Jimmy C Draughn High School, East Burke High School and Robert L. Patton High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Burke County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Burke County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Burke County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Jimmy C Draughn High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
709 Lovelady Road Ne
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 879-4200
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 879-4200
Grades: 9-12
| 656 students
Rank: #22.
East Burke High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3695 East Burke Boulevard
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-5541
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-5541
Grades: 9-12
| 868 students
Rank: #33.
Robert L. Patton High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
701 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-3000
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-3000
Grades: 9-12
| 753 students
Rank: #44.
New Dimensions
Charter School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
550 Lenoir Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5753
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5753
Grades: K-8
| 556 students
Rank: #55.
Freedom High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
511 Independence Boulevard
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1310
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1310
Grades: 9-12
| 1,374 students
Rank: #66.
Icard Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3087 Icard School Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Grades: PK-5
| 252 students
Rank: #77.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1951 Enon Road
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0731
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0731
Grades: 6-8
| 440 students
Rank: #88.
Salem Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1329 Salem Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Grades: PK-5
| 436 students
Rank: #99.
Drexel Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
100 Alta Vista Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Rank: #1010.
Mull Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1140 Old Nc 18 South
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Grades: PK-5
| 280 students
Rank: #1111.
Glen Alpine Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
302 London Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Grades: PK-5
| 305 students
Rank: #1212.
East Burke Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3519 Miller Bridge Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-7446
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-7446
Grades: 6-8
| 667 students
Rank: #1313.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
529 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1330
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1330
Grades: 6-8
| 459 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
George Hildebrand Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8078 G Hildebrand Sch Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
W A Young Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
325 Conley Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #1616.
Valdese Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
298 Praley Street
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Grades: PK-5
| 524 students
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Hildebran Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
703 Us Hwy 70 West
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Grades: PK-5
| 295 students
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Table Rock Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1585 Nc 126
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5212
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5212
Grades: 6-8
| 454 students
Rank: #1919.
Oak Hill Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2363 Nc 181
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #2020.
Forest Hill Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
304 Ann Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Grades: PK-5
| 291 students
Rank: #2121.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
805 Bouchelle St
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Grades: PK-5
| 730 students
Rank: #2222.
Walter R Johnson Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
701 Lenoir Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-7340
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 430-7340
Grades: 6-8
| 439 students
Rank: #2323.
Hillcrest Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
201 Tennessee Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Grades: PK-5
| 258 students
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Nc School For The Deaf
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
517 W Fleming Dr
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5388
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5388
Grades: PK-12
| 60 students
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
North Liberty
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
523 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Grades: PK-12
| 71 students
Rank: #2626.
Hallyburton Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
205 South Main Street
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Grades: 6-12
| 102 students
Rank: n/an/a
1001 Burkemont Ave
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 448-3175
Grades: 11-12
| 131 students
Rank: n/an/a
Heritage Middle School, 1951 E
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 448-3175
Grades: K-12
| 25 students
Burke County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
2142 Pax Hill Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3026
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3026
Grades: PK-5
| 190 students
East Alps (Closed 2011)
Alternative School
213 1st St
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-6175
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-6175
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Enola School Unit 24
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2092
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2092
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
300 Enola Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2661
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2661
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
205 South Main St
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Grades: 3-5
| n/a students
300 Enola Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 438-6586
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 438-6586
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
170 Honeycutt Drive
Rutherford College, NC 28671
(828) 879-8870
Rutherford College, NC 28671
(828) 879-8870
Grades: PK-5
| 209 students
Wtn Nc School For The Deaf (Closed 2013)
Special Education School
517 West Fleming Dr
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5200
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5200
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Burke County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Burke County, NC include Jimmy C Draughn High School, East Burke High School and Robert L. Patton High School.
How many public schools are located in Burke County?
28 public schools are located in Burke County.
What percentage of students in Burke County go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in Burke County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Burke County?
Burke County public schools minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Burke County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Burke County include: Freedom High School vs. Robert L. Patton High School, Table Rock Middle School vs. Walter R Johnson Middle School, Robert L. Patton High School vs. Freedom High School
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