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Avery County High

Public Grades 9-12

487^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 24% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Avery County High is a public high school located in Newland, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 594 students. The school is part of the Avery County Schools district, which is ranked 131 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Avery County High has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past few years, dropping from 191 out of 514 high schools in 2018-2019 to 487 out of 641 in 2024-2025. The school's performance is particularly concerning for its white student population, ranking in the bottom 10% of North Carolina high schools in recent years. However, the school's special education and disabled student subgroups have performed relatively better, ranking in the top half of North Carolina high schools. Avery County High's proficiency rates on End-of-Course (EOC) exams are consistently lower than the state and district averages, particularly in Math I and Math III.

Interestingly, Watauga High, a school in the neighboring Watauga County district, consistently outperforms Avery County High across various metrics, including statewide ranking, test scores, and graduation rates. Similarly, Mayland Early College, a small high school in the Mitchell County district, also significantly outperforms Avery County High, particularly in its test scores and statewide ranking.

542

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,821

Per pupil spending ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

401 Avery County High School R
Newland, NC 28657

(828) 733-0151

District: Avery County Schools

Feeder schools for Avery County High:

Elementary:	Banner Elk Elementary
	Crossnore Elementary
	Freedom Trail Elementary
	Newland Elementary
	More...
	Riverside Elementary
Middle:	Avery Middle
	Cranberry Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.0%

Hispanic:

17.0%

Two or more races:

3.7%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Avery County High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 24th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (39% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 39 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg39%

North Carolina avg53%

487^th of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 38 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to bottom 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

131^st of 242Avery 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	26.1	487 of 641	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.1	441 of 640	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.2	351 of 626	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.6	235 of 621	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.7	232 of 594	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.1	191 of 514	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.3	295 of 469	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.5	260 of 476	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	18.1	396 of 507	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	47.3	199 of 531	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	16.6	373 of 451	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	37.3	254 of 505	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	22.7	412 of 502	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.2	352 of 506	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.4	198 of 499	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.1	168 of 490	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.6	187 of 477	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	51.5	216 of 453	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.4	177 of 431	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	49.9	120 of 330	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.7	136 of 334	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.1	69 of 364	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	34.5	214 of 349	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	30.7	193 of 262	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	26.5	467 of 610	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.6	414 of 602	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.5	320 of 588	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	65.7	189 of 594	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.5	140 of 475	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	53.9	176 of 475	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.1	341 of 449	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	10.2	394 of 412	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	40.1	308 of 403	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.1	285 of 403	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	63.7	162 of 398	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.8	49 of 337	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	67.9	85 of 325	73.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	366 of 462	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	387 of 454	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.7	305 of 449	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.8	284 of 436	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.7	302 of 370	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.4	325 of 354	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.0	462 of 606	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.8	423 of 613	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	358 of 597	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.5	165 of 544	69.7%	★★★★☆
2021	51.8	106 of 432	75.5%	★★★★☆
2019	53.0	120 of 446	73.1%	★★★★☆
2018	35.1	250 of 424	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	27.7	449 of 601	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	443 of 607	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.7	377 of 602	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.7	244 of 585	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.0	160 of 481	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.6	216 of 488	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.4	249 of 463	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	43.6	169 of 352	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.9	264 of 349	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	12.0	505 of 542	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	476 of 553	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.9	423 of 537	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	52.0	255 of 534	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.3	185 of 439	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.1	242 of 444	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	17.3	384 of 427	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)64th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)52nd percentile+28 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)26th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)25th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)24th percentile~ school

Female (2025)23rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)21st percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile-17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)4th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III55%-12 vs state

English II49%-10 vs state

Biology37%-12 vs state

Math I7%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Avery County High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Avery County High	Public	9-12	401 Avery County High School R	Newland	28657	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 733-0151	542	27	20.2	99.3%	423 (78.0%)	1 (0.2%)	92 (17.0%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.7%)	26.1	487^th of 641 public high schools	24.0%		31.1	441^st of 640 public high schools	31.1%	46	36.7	49.2	6.7	54.6	$10,821	$537	$10,285
Mayland Early College	Public	9-12	264 Mayland Dr	Spruce Pine	28777	Avery County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-2590	113	5	23.2	97.3%	91 (80.5%)	1 (0.9%)	11 (9.7%)	3 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (6.2%)	83.9	115^th of 641 public high schools	82.1%		84.6	113^th of 640 public high schools	82.3%	2	61.9	89.3	75.0	86.7	$7,370	$209	$7,160
Mitchell High	Public	9-12	416 Ledger School Rd	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-3400	482	39	12.2	98.8%	396 (82.2%)	4 (0.8%)	68 (14.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	23	506^th of 641 public high schools	21.1%		29.5	455^th of 640 public high schools	28.9%	51	28.1	54.7	23.5	32.2	$11,982	$572	$11,410
Watauga High	Public	9-12	300 Go Pioneers Drive	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 264-2407	1,289	82	15.6	33.0%	1,042 (80.8%)	16 (1.2%)	159 (12.3%)	27 (2.1%)	7 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (2.9%)	72.8	166^th of 641 public high schools	74.1%		75.2	153^rd of 640 public high schools	76.1%	13	53.4	76.2	56.6	87.7	$11,160	$624	$10,536
Watauga Innovation Academy	Public	9-12	300 Go Pioneers Drive	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 264-2407	292	0		44.2%	249 (85.3%)	1 (0.3%)	36 (12.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	49.1	308^th of 641 public high schools	52.0%		64.6	207^th of 640 public high schools	67.7%	101	36.7	58.2	50.0	74.7	$2,667	$110	$2,557

Frequently Asked Questions about Avery County High

What schools feed into Avery County High?

Avery County High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Banner Elk Elementary
Elementary : Crossnore Elementary
Elementary : Freedom Trail Elementary
Elementary : Newland Elementary
Elementary : Riverside Elementary
Middle : Avery Middle
Middle : Cranberry Middle

What district is Avery County High in?

Avery County Schools

How many students attend Avery County High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 542 students attended Avery County High.

Is Avery County High a good school?

Avery County High ranks in the bottom 24.0% of North Carolina high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Avery County High?

Students at Avery County High are 78% White, 17% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Rate Avery County High!

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NCNorth Carolina High School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Newland, 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.