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Heritage Middle

Q: Is Heritage Middle a good school?

Heritage Middle ranks 280 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

280^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 64% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Heritage Middle, located in Valdese, NC, serves 475 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of Burke County Schools, a district rated mid-pack statewide. Heritage is a high-poverty school — virtually all of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch — yet it holds a respectable 3-star state rating, ranking #280 of 778 North Carolina middle schools in the 64th percentile for 2025–26.

Heritage's clear academic strengths are in the upper grades. Its 8th-grade math proficiency rate of 73.5% far exceeds both the district (62.7%) and the state (53.0%), and its 8th-grade science proficiency (76.9%) also tops statewide levels. The school is similarly strong in 7th-grade reading (62.6%) and math (66.3%). Perhaps most notably, Heritage performs exceptionally well with subgroups that typically struggle: its economically disadvantaged students rank in the 72nd percentile statewide, and its special education students rank in the 72nd percentile as well. Attendance is another bright spot — Heritage's chronic absenteeism rate of 18.8% is well below the state average of 24.2% and far better than several nearby schools such as Grandview Middle (34.4%) and Gamewell Middle (30.6%).

However, the school faces challenges. The most obvious is 6th grade, where math (55.3%) and reading (50.0%) proficiency lag district and state averages — a pattern suggesting that students arrive below expectations or that earlier-grade instruction needs attention. Another red flag is Heritage's 1-star ranking for gifted students, which has plunged from the 69th percentile in 2023–24 to just the 17th percentile now. Additionally, female students' performance has declined steadily (from the 76th to the 60th percentile over three years), and Heritage's white student subgroup performs below the school's overall average at the 42nd percentile. While Heritage remains higher-ranked than most local peers, nearby East Burke Middle has improved significantly and now ranks just ahead of Heritage at #249 of 778. With proven success in 7th and 8th grade, Heritage has the capacity to regain its earlier upper-tier status by targeting 6th-grade support and re-engaging its advanced learners.

475

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

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 — 75th percentile in 2016 → 64th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (64th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg60%

North Carolina avg58%

280^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 36%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

83^rd of 246Burke 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
2026	61.7	280 of 778	64.0%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	35.2	85 of 121	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	57.7	293 of 731	59.9%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	38.7	384 of 465	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	49.1	275 of 566	51.4%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	63.9	202 of 725	72.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	62.6	259 of 736	64.8%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	34.0	239 of 333	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	55.4	138 of 500	72.4%	★★★★☆
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
2026	44.8	372 of 644	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
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)

Disabled (2022)73rd percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2026)72nd percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)65th percentile~ school

Female (2026)60th percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)51st percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile-22 vs school

Asian (2026)30th percentile-34 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)28th percentile-36 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)17th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science77%+8 vs state

Mathematics65%+9 vs state

Reading55%~ state avg

★

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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		349 (73.5%)	19 (4.0%)	43 (9.1%)	30 (6.3%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (6.3%)	61.7	280^th of 778 public middle schools	64.0%		66.5	237^th of 773 public middle schools	69.3%	43	55.3	66.3	73.5	50.0	62.6	53.2	76.9	$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		307 (67.8%)	15 (3.3%)	80 (17.7%)	16 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	63.4	265^th of 778 public middle schools	65.9%		65	252^nd of 773 public middle schools	67.4%	13	79.8	63.4	51.0	57.6	58.5	54.4	73.2	$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		94 (21.3%)	24 (5.4%)	284 (64.4%)	13 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.9%)	43.4	450^th of 778 public middle schools	42.2%		29.2	554^th of 773 public middle schools	28.3%	104	45.9	57.5	71.1	40.1	46.2	45.3	72.7	$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		459 (72.9%)	14 (2.2%)	59 (9.4%)	58 (9.2%)	2 (0.3%)	6 (1.0%)	32 (5.1%)	64.9	249^th of 778 public middle schools	68.0%		50.7	383^rd of 773 public middle schools	50.5%	134	74.1	58.9	57.9	56.2	61.1	59.5	74.4	$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		282 (61.7%)	47 (10.3%)	89 (19.5%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	19.7	652^nd of 778 public middle schools	16.2%		18.6	648^th of 773 public middle schools	16.2%	4	40.8	37.8	26.8	44.2	48.1	34.2	47.7	$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		456 (82.8%)	6 (1.1%)	66 (12.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	55.2	350^th of 778 public middle schools	55.0%		47.8	407^th of 773 public middle schools	47.3%	57	56.3	50.5	59.3	59.9	49.2	61.0	75.6	$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		402 (77.6%)	16 (3.1%)	65 (12.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.0%)	47.2	420^th of 778 public middle schools	46.0%		65.9	243^rd of 773 public middle schools	68.6%	177	58.6	42.1	53.5	49.7	53.9	63.0	61.8	$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		282 (66.0%)	34 (8.0%)	53 (12.4%)	20 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.7%)	56.2	337^th of 778 public middle schools	56.7%		49.2	390^th of 773 public middle schools	49.5%	53	46.3	66.7	65.0	49.0	53.3	51.6	85.4	$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		300 (58.6%)	60 (11.7%)	110 (21.5%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.8%)	39.4	484^th of 778 public middle schools	37.8%		50.9	381^st of 773 public middle schools	50.7%	103	43.6	49.2	51.3	46.4	53.1	51.9	63.3	$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		191 (39.7%)	86 (17.9%)	110 (22.9%)	24 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	68 (14.1%)	42	463^rd of 778 public middle schools	40.5%		40.4	468^th of 773 public middle schools	39.5%	5	59.1	43.8	49.4	53.2	47.9	52.1	60.2	$8,178	$747	$7,431

Frequently Asked Questions about Heritage Middle

What district is Heritage Middle in?

Burke County Schools

How many students attend Heritage Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 475 students attended 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

Is Heritage Middle a good school?

Heritage Middle ranks 280^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Heritage Middle!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.