Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 26 schools in district

Valdese Elementary

298 Praley Street, Valdese, NC 28690Burke County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–05Non-Charter
521
Students
Total enrolled
$12,502
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 13% vs nat'l
16.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 5% vs nat'l
37/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 27% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 521 students in grades PK–05 in Valdese, North Carolina.
13% below average funding
District spends $12,502 per pupil, 13% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 37th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Valdese Elementary is a large elementary in Valdese, North Carolina, serving grades PK–05 with 521 students. The district invests $12,502 per student — 13% below the national average of $14,347, with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 67% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 37/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Valdese Elementary

521
Total Students
16.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
67%
Free Lunch
32
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution260 male · 261 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility67%
National avg 52% · 347 students
Student Composition
77%
8%
Asian6%
White77%
Hispanic / Latino8%
Black2%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370048000193

Academic Outcomes at Valdese Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
37
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 37th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 15th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28690

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,502Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,502
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,501
Student Support$2,375
Administration$1,500
Operations$1,875
Other$1,250
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,502 spent per student, an estimated $5,538 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
62%
15%
State government
61.6%
Local (property tax)
15.2%
Federal programs
23.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (37/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Mountain View ElementaryRay Childers ElementaryDrexel ElementarySalem Elementary
+9 more
↓
Middle
East Burke MiddleTable Rock MiddleWalter R Johnson MiddleLiberty Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
Freedom HighEast Burke HighRobert L. Patton High SchoolJimmy C Draughn High School
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 05
Location—
CountyBurke County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBurke County Schools →
Phone: (828)874-0704
NCES ID: 370048000193
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Valdese seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Burke County Schools
High
Freedom High
1,414 students · 09–12
64% FRL
High
East Burke High
879 students · 09–12
● 36 opp63% FRL
High
Robert L. Patton High School
752 students · 09–12
55% FRL
High
Jimmy C Draughn High School
682 students · 09–12
● 37 opp51% FRL
Elem
Mountain View Elementary
677 students · PK–05
85% FRL
Mid
East Burke Middle
645 students · 06–08
● 36 opp71% FRL
Mid
Table Rock Middle
502 students · 06–08
71% FRL
Mid
Walter R Johnson Middle
465 students · 06–08
90% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
298 Praley Street, Valdese, NC 28690
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

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.