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Drexel Elementary

Q: Is Drexel Elementary a good school?

Drexel Elementary ranks 733 rd of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

733^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Drexel Elementary is a public elementary school located in Morganton, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 478 students. The school is part of the Burke County Schools district, which is ranked 121 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Drexel Elementary has shown a mixed academic performance, with its statewide ranking fluctuating between 264 (2018-2019) and 733 (2024-2025) out of around 1,500 North Carolina elementary schools. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics and Reading were generally lower than the Burke County Schools and North Carolina state averages, with the exception of 4th-grade Mathematics. However, the school's performance in 5th-grade Science has been relatively stronger, with proficiency rates exceeding the district and state averages in recent years. Drexel Elementary has also shown some disparities in the performance of different student subgroups, with its White students consistently ranking in the bottom quarter of North Carolina elementary schools, while its English Language Learner and Low Socio-Economic Status students have performed better.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Icard Elementary, Salem Elementary, and Mull Elementary, Drexel Elementary's academic performance is generally lower, with these nearby schools having higher proficiency rates and statewide rankings. However, Drexel Elementary's student population appears to have a higher concentration of low-income students, as evidenced by its exceptionally high free and reduced-price lunch rates, which are higher than the nearby schools. The school's higher per-student spending compared to the district average may indicate that it is receiving additional resources to support its students, but the mixed academic outcomes suggest the need to evaluate the effectiveness of its resource allocation and instructional practices.

477

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,435

Per pupil spending ?

98.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Alta Vista Street
Morganton, NC 28655

(828) 437-3160

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend Drexel Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Heritage Middle
High:	Draughn High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.2%

Hispanic:

11.5%

Asian:

8.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Drexel Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 47th percentile in 2015 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg57%

733^rd of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 47% (2015) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 14Elementary 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	51.0	733 of 1490	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	473 of 1505	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.6	310 of 1502	79.4%	★★★★☆
2022	71.0	389 of 1514	74.3%	★★★★☆
2021	62.7	525 of 1489	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	77.7	264 of 1473	82.1%	★★★★☆
2018	67.8	444 of 1434	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.4	549 of 1429	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.4	670 of 1425	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	49.5	759 of 1440	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.9	822 of 1390	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.0	948 of 1403	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	60.8	584 of 1388	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.0	664 of 1381	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	60.9	57 of 106	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	31.3	671 of 897	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	64.8	116 of 533	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	60.9	115 of 485	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.4	45 of 385	88.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.4	710 of 1451	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.6	589 of 1455	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.8	375 of 1459	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	286 of 1458	80.4%	★★★★☆
2021	71.3	346 of 1440	76.0%	★★★★☆
2019	77.1	261 of 1424	81.7%	★★★★☆
2018	72.3	350 of 1405	75.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	50.3	487 of 710	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	70.8	29 of 669	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	54.3	366 of 582	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.2	322 of 500	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.6	245 of 494	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.8	453 of 612	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	65.0	15 of 69	78.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.5	494 of 961	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	56.1	556 of 1437	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.4	176 of 1450	87.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.3	85 of 1437	94.1%	★★★★★
2022	81.8	128 of 1366	90.6%	★★★★★
2021	76.4	183 of 1329	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	85.6	94 of 1361	93.1%	★★★★★
2018	71.5	285 of 1332	78.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.0	685 of 1450	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.3	370 of 1464	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	77.3	265 of 1461	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	471 of 1464	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	644 of 1444	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.1	300 of 1430	79.0%	★★★★☆
2018	60.8	546 of 1413	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	468 of 821	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.3	645 of 801	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.7	923 of 1172	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.9	628 of 1166	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.9	445 of 1183	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.3	444 of 1194	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.8	618 of 1172	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.4	419 of 1183	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.8	746 of 1178	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)78th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile+11 vs school

Male (2025)53rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)51st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)49th percentile~ school

Asian (2019)46th percentile-36 vs school

Special Education (2025)43rd percentile-8 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)31st percentile-19 vs school

Disabled (2018)25th percentile-44 vs school

White (2025)21st percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science75%+13 vs state

Mathematics56%-5 vs state

Reading51%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Drexel Elementary

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 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Drexel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Alta Vista Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-3160	477	29	16.4	98.7%	316 (66.2%)	23 (4.8%)	55 (11.5%)	41 (8.6%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	35 (7.3%)	51	733^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	50.8%		66.1	473^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	68.6%	260	56.1	63.9	46.5				54.5	48.6	49.3				74.6		$9,435	$1,433	$8,002
Valdese Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	298 Praley Street	Valdese	28690	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 874-0704	530	30	17.8	99.4%	422 (79.6%)	11 (2.1%)	44 (8.3%)	25 (4.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (4.5%)	56.5	623^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	58.2%		64.2	502^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	66.6%	121	69.0	62.1	61.4				35.6	59.8	51.5				70.3		$8,594	$1,111	$7,483
Hillcrest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Tennessee Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-4258	254	18	14.0	97.6%	38 (15.0%)	17 (6.7%)	182 (71.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	25.1	1181^st of 1490 public elementary schools	20.7%		25.7	1184^th of 1505 public elementary schools	21.3%	3	52.9	42.2	57.1				32.4	37.8	40.5				42.9		$11,197	$1,694	$9,503
Mull Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1140 Old NC 18 South	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5785	291	20	14.2	98.6%	203 (69.8%)	8 (2.7%)	48 (16.5%)	13 (4.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	64	499^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.5%		78.5	272^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	81.9%	227	58.7	78.1	73.1				30.4	65.6	67.3				69.2		$11,063	$1,857	$9,205
New Dimensions	Public, Charter	K-8	550 Lenoir Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	The New Dimensions School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5753	569	39	14.7	33.0%	500 (87.9%)	21 (3.7%)	13 (2.3%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.4%)	58.1	596^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.0%		58.5	608^th of 1505 public elementary schools	59.6%	12	76.6	62.7	46.4	56.9	60.4	66.7	57.8	56.7	48.2	60.0	73.6	70.8	60.7	72.9
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	805 Bouchelle St	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-1584	762	52	14.5	97.8%	287 (37.7%)	58 (7.6%)	346 (45.4%)	12 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (7.3%)	28.6	1107^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.7%		34.7	1015^th of 1505 public elementary schools	32.6%	92	55.0	54.1	44.9				25.2	45.9	41.1				52.3		$9,734	$1,324	$8,410
Forest Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	304 Ann Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5906	305	19	15.8	99.0%	78 (25.6%)	25 (8.2%)	175 (57.4%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.6%)	23.1	1217^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.3%		22.3	1239^th of 1505 public elementary schools	17.7%	22	46.3	35.7	43.2				26.8	45.2	40.9				56.8		$10,628	$1,562	$9,066
Baton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Baton School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-9531	357	23	15.4	99.2%	303 (84.9%)	6 (1.7%)	29 (8.1%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	60	564^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.1%		60.8	568^th of 1505 public elementary schools	62.3%	4	68.0	62.7	56.9				52.0	58.8	52.3				70.8		$9,953	$1,175	$8,778
Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1329 Salem Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5901	476	28	17.0	98.7%	377 (79.2%)	3 (0.6%)	65 (13.7%)	8 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.6%)	70.7	378^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.6%		73.5	352^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	76.6%	26	77.0	75.8	68.7				54.0	58.1	50.7				74.6		$9,182	$1,028	$8,153
Icard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3087 Icard School Road	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 397-3491	265	21	12.7	98.9%	188 (70.9%)	1 (0.4%)	32 (12.1%)	32 (12.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.5%)	58.5	588^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.5%		63.1	523^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	65.2%	65	68.9	74.4	62.8				51.1	59.0	37.2				65.1		$9,629	$1,361	$8,268

Frequently Asked Questions about Drexel Elementary

Is Drexel Elementary a good school?

Drexel Elementary ranks 733^rd of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Drexel Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 477 students attended Drexel Elementary.

What district is Drexel Elementary in?

Burke County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Drexel Elementary?

Students at Drexel Elementary are 66% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American.

What schools do graduates of Drexel Elementary attend?

Students who attend Drexel Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Heritage Middle
High : Draughn High School

Rate Drexel Elementary!

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Schools in Morganton, NC

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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.