Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 22 schools in district

Wilkes Central High School

1179 Moravian Falls Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697Wilkes County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
752
Students
Total enrolled
90%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
~avg
$12,482
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 13% vs nat'l
15.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
42/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 752 students in grades 09–12 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
13% below average funding
District spends $12,482 per pupil, 13% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 42th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Wilkes Central High School is a large high in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, serving grades 09–12 with 752 students. The district invests $12,482 per student — 13% below the national average of $14,347, with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. The school's 90% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at Wilkes Central High School

752
Total Students
15.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
54%
Free Lunch
50
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution395 male · 357 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility54%
National avg 52% · 404 students
Student Composition
55%
26%
11%
8%
Asian1%
White55%
Hispanic / Latino26%
Black11%
Multiracial8%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370495001989

Academic Outcomes at Wilkes Central High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
90
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
90%
State avg
84%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
42
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 42th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 38th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28697

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,482Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,482
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,492
Student Support$2,372
Administration$1,498
Operations$1,872
Other$1,248
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,482 spent per student, an estimated $5,529 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
60%
21%
State government
59.5%
Local (property tax)
20.8%
Federal programs
19.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 90% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Millers Creek Elementary SchoolMountain View Elementary SchoolMulberry Elementary SchoolWilkesboro Elementary School
+9 more
↓
Middle
Central Wilkes Middle SchoolWest Wilkes Middle SchoolNorth Wilkes Middle SchoolEast Wilkes Middle School
↓
High School
West Wilkes High SchoolNorth Wilkes High SchoolEast Wilkes High SchoolWilkes Early College High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountyWilkes County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWilkes County Schools →
Phone: (336)667-5277
NCES ID: 370495001989
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Wilkesboro seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing strong graduation outcomes and academic completion. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Wilkes County Schools
Elem
Millers Creek Elementary School
734 students · PK–05
100% FRL
High
West Wilkes High School
628 students · 09–12
47% FRL
High
North Wilkes High School
625 students · 09–12
56% FRL
Mid
Central Wilkes Middle School
576 students · 06–08
99% FRL
High
East Wilkes High School
495 students · 09–12
47% FRL
Elem
Mountain View Elementary School
484 students · PK–05
99% FRL
Mid
West Wilkes Middle School
468 students · 06–08
● 42 opp99% FRL
Elem
Mulberry Elementary School
420 students · PK–05
99% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1179 Moravian Falls Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
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.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
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.