Elementary Schools in Burke County Schools

Summary:

The Burke County Schools district in North Carolina is home to 14 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. This comprehensive data set provides valuable insights into the performance and demographics of these schools.

Three elementary schools stand out as top performers within the district: Salem Elementary, George Hildebrand Elementary, and Mull Elementary. These schools consistently rank among the top elementary schools in the state, with strong proficiency rates in math, reading, and science that often exceed the district and state averages.

However, the data also reveals significant challenges faced by the district, with all 14 schools having extremely high free/reduced lunch rates, indicating a high-poverty student population. While the top-performing schools demonstrate that success is possible, there is a wide range in proficiency rates across the district, suggesting the need for targeted interventions and support tailored to the specific needs of each school community. Addressing these socioeconomic barriers and replicating the practices of the standout schools will be crucial to improving outcomes for all students in the Burke County Schools district.

District Detail

700 East Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655

(828) 439-4311

SchoolDigger Rank:
121^st of 242 North Carolina districts

See the 2025 North Carolina District rankings!

Grades served: PK, KG-12
Students: 11,667

Primary Schools: 14
Middle Schools: 5
High Schools: 6
Alternative Schools: 2

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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
George Hildebrand Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8078 G Hildebrand Sch Road	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 879-9595	327	22	14.7	98.5%	277 (84.7%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.4%)	12 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	17 (5.2%)	77.1	291^st of 1490 public elementary schools	80.5%		66.5	462^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	69.3%	171	72.2	63.6	87.0	57.4	58.2	80.4	82.6	$10,687	$1,383	$9,305
Glen Alpine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	302 London Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 584-0661	295	22	13.2	99.0%	180 (61.0%)	14 (4.7%)	49 (16.6%)	20 (6.8%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.2%)	60.4	557^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.6%		52.6	706^th of 1505 public elementary schools	53.1%	149	72.5	57.8	75.5	43.1	51.1	52.8	71.7	$10,621	$1,368	$9,253
Hildebran Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	703 US Hwy 70 West	Hildebran	28637	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 397-3181	297	16	18.5	96.0%	225 (75.8%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.7%)	28 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.4%)	53.2	687^th of 1490 public elementary schools	53.9%		59.9	582^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	61.3%	105	63.6	64.3	66.7	36.4	57.1	45.8	66.7	$10,444	$1,872	$8,572
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
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
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
Oak Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2363 Nc 181	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 433-1533	310	20	15.2	99.0%	194 (62.6%)	40 (12.9%)	38 (12.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	34 (11.0%)	29.1	1102^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	26.0%		26.7	1169^th of 1505 public elementary schools	22.3%	67	41.8	42.6	38.9	36.4	55.3	42.6	59.3	$9,195	$1,040	$8,155
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
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
Ray Childers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1183 Cape Hickory Road	Hickory	28601	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 324-1340	460	29	15.7	99.3%	304 (66.1%)	6 (1.3%)	58 (12.6%)	61 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.5%)	64.9	487^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.3%		63.7	514^th of 1505 public elementary schools	65.8%	27	75.3	69.7	76.4	48.1	60.6	48.6	62.5	$10,027	$1,439	$8,588
W A Young Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	325 Conley Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 584-0632	327	25	12.9	95.4%	246 (75.2%)	4 (1.2%)	22 (6.7%)	32 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.0%)	37.9	953^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	36.0%		64.4	499^th of 1505 public elementary schools	66.8%	454	62.8	68.2	36.2	46.5	61.4	29.8	36.2	$10,309	$1,352	$8,957
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
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

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Caldwell County Schools	4.26 mi	25	141^st
NC Health and Human Services	5.58 mi	11
The New Dimensions School	6.07 mi	1	49^th
Governor Morehead School for the Blind	6.5 mi	3
NC School for the Deaf	6.52 mi	1

See the top NC North Carolina districts

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.