Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Burke County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
26
Schools
11,651
Students
$12,502
Per-Pupil Spend
-13% nat'l
70.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+18pp vs nat'l
91.7%
Graduation Rate
+5.2pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Burke County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 11,651 students across 26 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 91.7% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,502 is below the national average for a US public school district. 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (26)
Elementary Schools14 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Drexel ElementaryPK–05438
Forest Hill ElementaryPK–05269
George Hildebrand ElementaryPK–05318
Glen Alpine ElementaryPK–05279
Hildebran ElementaryPK–05320
Hillcrest ElementaryPK–05284
Icard ElementaryPK–05260
Mountain View ElementaryPK–05677
Mull ElementaryPK–05258
Oak Hill ElementaryPK–05327
Ray Childers ElementaryPK–05457
Salem ElementaryPK–05401
Valdese ElementaryPK–05521
W A Young ElementaryPK–05306
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
East Burke Middle06–08645
Heritage Middle06–08453
Liberty Middle06–08457
Table Rock Middle06–08502
Walter R Johnson Middle06–08465
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Burke Middle College11–12119
East Burke High09–12879
Freedom High09–121,414
Hallyburton Academy06–12101
Jimmy C Draughn High School09–12682
Robert L. Patton High School09–12752
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
North LibertyPK–1267
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,502-13% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
62%
15%
State
61.6%
Local (property tax)
15.2%
Federal
23.1%

State funding accounts for 62% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
26
Schools
11,651
Students
70%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate91.7%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
91.7% graduation rate — 5.2 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 26 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
23% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Burke County Schools?
Burke County Schools has 26 public schools, serving a total of 11,651 students.
What is the graduation rate for Burke County Schools?
The graduation rate is 91.7%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Burke County Schools spend per student?
Burke County Schools spends $12,502 per pupil — 13% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Burke County Schools?
70% of students in Burke County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Burke County Schools?
No, Burke County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Burke County Schools serve?
Burke County Schools serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Burke County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Burke County Schools is 36/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.