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Heritage Middle

Q: Is Heritage Middle a good school?

Heritage Middle ranks 237 th of 773 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

237^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 773 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 69% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Heritage Middle is a public middle school located in Valdese, North Carolina, serving 440 students in grades 6-8. It is part of the Burke County Schools district, which is ranked 121 out of 242 districts in the state.

Heritage Middle consistently outperforms the district and state averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics, Reading, and Science were significantly higher than the district and state. For example, in 8th grade Mathematics, Heritage Middle had a 74.1% proficiency rate, compared to 50.3% for the district and 48.7% for the state. The school also performs well across various student subgroups, with strong rankings for female students, Hispanic students, and students with disabilities.

While Heritage Middle outperforms nearby schools in the Burke County Schools district, its performance is more mixed when compared to schools outside the district, such as Grandview Middle and Northview Middle in the Hickory City Schools district. Despite the high percentage of economically disadvantaged students at Heritage Middle, the school has been able to maintain its strong academic performance, suggesting effective strategies and support systems in place to address the needs of its diverse student population.

475

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,601

Per pupil spending ?

99.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1951 Enon Road
Valdese, NC 28690

(828) 874-0731

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend Heritage Middle usually attend:

High:

Draughn High School

Feeder schools for Heritage Middle:

Elementary:	Drexel Elementary
	Valdese Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

73.5%

Hispanic:

9.1%

Asian:

6.3%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Heritage Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2015 → 69th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (61% vs 54% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Burke County Schools

✓Above the North Carolina median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg54%

North Carolina avg54%

237^th of 773

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to top 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Middle Schools in the Burke County Schools

121^st of 242Burke County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	66.5	237 of 773	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.1	216 of 793	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	79.7	143 of 784	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	79.1	145 of 786	81.6%	★★★★☆
2021	76.2	162 of 741	78.1%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	165 of 737	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	71.7	174 of 691	74.8%	★★★★☆
2017	76.1	142 of 694	79.5%	★★★★☆
2016	71.1	174 of 692	74.9%	★★★★☆
2015	75.8	149 of 705	78.9%	★★★★☆
2014	68.9	167 of 627	73.4%	★★★★☆
2013	66.8	183 of 673	72.8%	★★★★☆
2012	74.7	150 of 662	77.3%	★★★★☆
2011	78.9	101 of 648	84.4%	★★★★☆
2010	80.7	84 of 640	86.9%	★★★★☆
2009	81.2	86 of 630	86.3%	★★★★☆
2008	78.2	103 of 620	83.4%	★★★★☆
2007	79.8	74 of 606	87.8%	★★★★☆
2006	72.8	133 of 598	77.8%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	81 of 111	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.8	63 of 110	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.2	61 of 110	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.1	81 of 109	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.5	58 of 99	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.9	59 of 102	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.9	51 of 95	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	55.4	122 of 449	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	52.8	159 of 478	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.1	259 of 504	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	181 of 475	61.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	206 of 733	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.9	178 of 738	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	123 of 731	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	83.1	103 of 733	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	79.5	120 of 706	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	78.6	130 of 684	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	71.0	178 of 656	72.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.9	292 of 458	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.5	142 of 461	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.1	131 of 452	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	57.8	226 of 450	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.1	275 of 448	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.8	306 of 416	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	59.1	192 of 562	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.2	253 of 564	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	158 of 553	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	71.0	101 of 541	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	67.2	108 of 522	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	70.3	93 of 493	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	71.5	86 of 472	81.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	71.7	131 of 729	82.0%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	113 of 743	84.8%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	77 of 735	89.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.3	51 of 689	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	84.8	41 of 633	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	80.2	66 of 639	89.7%	★★★★☆
2018	79.0	66 of 604	89.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	241 of 733	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.3	246 of 751	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.5	154 of 747	79.4%	★★★★☆
2022	71.9	175 of 748	76.6%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	184 of 711	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	68.6	199 of 697	71.4%	★★★★☆
2018	70.2	179 of 665	73.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	23.9	205 of 237	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.4	120 of 221	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	84 of 478	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	49.4	173 of 473	63.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.2	343 of 649	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.6	364 of 652	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.4	210 of 656	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	212 of 658	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.4	238 of 632	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.2	281 of 624	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.6	284 of 596	52.3%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)82nd percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)82nd percentile+13 vs school

Disabled (2022)73rd percentile-9 vs school

Female (2025)72nd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)67th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)66th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)47th percentile-22 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)36th percentile-33 vs school

Asian (2025)27th percentile-42 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)14th percentile-64 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science67%+7 vs state

Mathematics64%+11 vs state

Reading57%+4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Heritage Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Heritage Middle	Public	6-8	1951 Enon Road	Valdese	28690	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 874-0731	475	29	16.1	99.2%	349 (73.5%)	19 (4.0%)	43 (9.1%)	30 (6.3%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (6.3%)	66.5	237^th of 773 public middle schools	69.3%		69.1	216^th of 793 public middle schools	72.8%	21	62.8	56.8	74.1	57.6	50.3	63.0	66.7	$8,601	$890	$7,711
Liberty Middle	Public	6-8	529 Enola Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 437-1330	453	29	15.6	99.3%	307 (67.8%)	15 (3.3%)	80 (17.7%)	16 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	65	252^nd of 773 public middle schools	67.4%		68.2	220^th of 793 public middle schools	72.3%	32	77.9	59.7	56.4	56.5	45.1	59.5	67.5	$8,674	$830	$7,844
Walter R Johnson Middle	Public	6-8	701 Lenoir Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 430-7340	441	34	12.9	99.3%	94 (21.3%)	24 (5.4%)	284 (64.4%)	13 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.9%)	29.2	554^th of 773 public middle schools	28.3%		26.5	598^th of 793 public middle schools	24.6%	44	48.0	53.9	43.1	36.7	32.8	34.4	46.9	$8,789	$1,074	$7,715
East Burke Middle	Public	6-8	3519 Miller Bridge Road	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 397-7446	630	40	15.9	99.2%	459 (72.9%)	14 (2.2%)	59 (9.4%)	58 (9.2%)	2 (0.3%)	6 (1.0%)	32 (5.1%)	50.7	383^rd of 773 public middle schools	50.5%		51.4	381^st of 793 public middle schools	52.0%	2	55.6	60.3	44.4	53.5	52.5	45.3	60.4	$8,638	$679	$7,959
Gamewell Middle	Public	6-8	3210 Gamewell School Road	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6204	457	30	15.3	98.5%	282 (61.7%)	47 (10.3%)	89 (19.5%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	18.6	648^th of 773 public middle schools	16.2%		25.6	610^th of 793 public middle schools	23.1%	38	49.6	21.5	24.7	47.3	27.2	36.3	38.2	$8,743	$1,279	$7,464
Hudson Middle	Public	6-8	291 Pine Mountain Road	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-4281	551	33	16.6	98.9%	456 (82.8%)	6 (1.1%)	66 (12.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	47.8	407^th of 773 public middle schools	47.3%		60	289^th of 793 public middle schools	63.6%	118	48.7	61.8	43.4	41.5	57.2	50.3	60.9	$9,317	$1,021	$8,296
Granite Falls Middle	Public	6-8	4 West Highland Ave	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2341	518	34	15.3	99.4%	402 (77.6%)	16 (3.1%)	65 (12.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.0%)	65.9	243^rd of 773 public middle schools	68.6%		63.3	263^rd of 793 public middle schools	66.8%	20	64.6	57.2	61.6	53.1	59.0	58.5	69.5	$9,031	$920	$8,111
Table Rock Middle	Public	6-8	1585 Nc 126	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 437-5212	427	31	14.0	99.1%	282 (66.0%)	34 (8.0%)	53 (12.4%)	20 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.7%)	49.2	390^th of 773 public middle schools	49.5%		48.6	409^th of 793 public middle schools	48.4%	19	69.5	55.8	37.9	56.3	51.7	37.2	58.2	$9,032	$751	$8,280
William Lenoir Middle	Public	6-8	1366 Wildcat Trail	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 726-3910	512	30	17.1	98.8%	300 (58.6%)	60 (11.7%)	110 (21.5%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.8%)	50.9	381^st of 773 public middle schools	50.7%		53.6	351^st of 793 public middle schools	55.7%	30	53.2	50.6	35.8	50.3	48.1	59.1	74.2	$9,237	$791	$8,446
Northview Middle	Public	6-8	302 28th Avenue NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 327-6300	481	28	17.3	99.4%	191 (39.7%)	86 (17.9%)	110 (22.9%)	24 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	68 (14.1%)	40.4	468^th of 773 public middle schools	39.5%		49	404^th of 793 public middle schools	49.1%	64	46.4	35.3	45.5	48.7	41.8	61.3	56.6	$8,178	$747	$7,431

Frequently Asked Questions about Heritage Middle

What is the racial makeup of Heritage Middle?

Students at Heritage Middle are 73% White, 9% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American.

What high school do graduates of Heritage Middle attend?

Students who attend Heritage Middle usually go on to attend Draughn High School

How many students attend Heritage Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 475 students attended Heritage Middle.

Is Heritage Middle a good school?

Heritage Middle ranks 237^th of 773 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Heritage Middle in?

Burke County Schools

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.