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Oak Hill Elementary

Q: Is Oak Hill Elementary a good school?

Oak Hill Elementary ranks 1082 nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1082^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Oak Hill Elementary is a PK-5 elementary school in Morganton, NC, serving 310 students as part of Burke County Schools. The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranked 1,082nd of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools during the 2025–2026 school year, placing it in the state's lower quartile after several years of decline from an earlier position near the statewide middle. Nearly all of its students (99%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Oak Hill Elementary trails its district and state averages in most subjects. The largest gap appears in early literacy: only 34% of 3rd graders scored proficient in reading, compared with roughly 56% across Burke County Schools and the state overall. Math proficiency in grades 3 through 5 also trails the district by 10 to 21 percentage points. There are relative bright spots: 5th grade reading nearly matches the district average, and 5th grade science (63%) is close to the state figure. Chronic absenteeism is a genuine strength: 14.6% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, well below both the district (18.3%) and state (24.2%) averages.

What makes the situation at Oak Hill Elementary particularly notable is how nearby schools with similar poverty levels perform. Salem Elementary, about 6.5 miles away, has a nearly identical free/reduced lunch population yet ranked in the 82nd percentile statewide in 2025–2026, with 65% of its 3rd graders reading proficiently compared with only 34% at Oak Hill Elementary. Drexel Elementary also serves a similar population and ranks in the 75th percentile. High poverty does not have to produce low results, which suggests that the challenges at Oak Hill Elementary likely lie in classroom instruction and support rather than in student attendance or demographics.

310

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

99%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2363 Nc 181
Morganton, NC 28655

(828) 433-1533

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend Oak Hill Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Table Rock Middle
High:	Freedom High

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.6%

African American:

12.9%

Hispanic:

12.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Oak Hill Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 40th percentile in 2016 → 27th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (50% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg61%

1,082^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary 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	30.4	1082 of 1492	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	1102 of 1490	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.7	1169 of 1505	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.8	939 of 1502	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.2	745 of 1514	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.1	666 of 1489	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	781 of 1473	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.5	703 of 1434	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.6	810 of 1429	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.1	857 of 1425	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.4	694 of 1440	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.9	700 of 1390	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.1	599 of 1403	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.9	378 of 1388	72.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.8	327 of 1381	76.3%	★★★★☆
2010	71.9	356 of 1363	73.9%	★★★★☆
2009	66.1	484 of 1354	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	58.7	568 of 1324	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.9	511 of 1293	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.7	779 of 1276	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	27.3	732 of 933	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.3	458 of 896	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.1	298 of 927	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	44.1	463 of 878	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.5	589 of 897	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.1	1085 of 1447	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.4	1004 of 1451	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.0	1021 of 1455	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.2	831 of 1459	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.5	741 of 1458	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.5	726 of 1440	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.2	673 of 1424	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.9	667 of 1405	52.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	31 of 743	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	53.2	449 of 710	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	5.2	662 of 669	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	52.6	402 of 582	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.4	463 of 500	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	47.0	357 of 494	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.6	371 of 612	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.4	40 of 69	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	858 of 1434	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.1	951 of 1437	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.7	1212 of 1450	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.4	968 of 1437	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.4	513 of 1366	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.3	489 of 1329	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.1	743 of 1361	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	63.8	421 of 1332	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.8	1034 of 1451	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.0	1144 of 1450	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.9	1185 of 1464	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.4	964 of 1461	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.2	703 of 1464	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.4	586 of 1444	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.3	805 of 1430	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.5	723 of 1413	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	41.4	430 of 801	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	929 of 1146	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.7	1044 of 1172	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	1049 of 1166	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.5	935 of 1183	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.0	793 of 1194	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.4	444 of 1172	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.8	730 of 1183	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.1	808 of 1178	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)96th percentile+68 vs school

Disabled (2019)47th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)46th percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile+13 vs school

Male (2026)29th percentile~ school

Female (2026)25th percentile~ school

African American (2023)22nd percentile-16 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science63%-5 vs state

Mathematics51%-13 vs state

Reading45%-12 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, July 20, 2015

The school is rapidly declining because of the principal. It has fallen all the way down academically. The principal and teachers work together to only allow certain students into clubs. The principal told the parents, that she will respect parents if she thinks they deserve to be called that. She leaves pee on the floor in the hallways after preschoolers have had accidents. Has children unload ups trucks. Talks back to parents, and is disrespectful, cold-hearted and should not be in the school system at all. since she has been there the test scores have dropped dramatically and 110 kids have left because of her, and several teachers have also left. Please get rid of her immediately she makes all the parents and childrens' lives miserable. Close Quote

Schools Near Oak Hill Elementary

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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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 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
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%)	30.4	1082^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	27.5%		29.1	1102^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	26.0%	20	46.0	53.8	52.2				34.0	48.1	52.2				63.0		$9,195	$1,040	$8,155
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%)	38.3	938^th of 1492 public elementary schools	37.1%		28.6	1107^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.7%	169	69.9	56.1	54.8				48.8	43.9	42.3				60.6		$9,734	$1,324	$8,410
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%)	58.2	612^th of 1492 public elementary schools	59.0%		60.4	557^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.6%	55	76.7	69.1	64.2				74.4	54.5	47.2				62.3		$10,621	$1,368	$9,253
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%)	44.4	837^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.9%		58.1	596^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.0%	241	76.1	71.4	51.4	54.2	50.9	67.9	52.2	50.0	45.7	50.0	62.3	69.8	52.9	69.8
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%)	63.5	527^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.7%		37.9	953^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	36.0%	426	71.7	73.9	56.1				52.2	63.0	63.4				75.6		$10,309	$1,352	$8,957
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%)	20.5	1272^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	14.7%		23.1	1217^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.3%	55	53.3	45.7	36.4				48.9	37.0	38.6				52.3		$10,628	$1,562	$9,066
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%)	36	981^st of 1492 public elementary schools	34.2%		25.1	1181^st of 1490 public elementary schools	20.7%	200	67.6	45.7	58.1				61.8	37.1	25.6				65.1		$11,197	$1,694	$9,503
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%)	77.2	275^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.6%		70.7	378^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.6%	103	76.3	77.3	78.3				65.0	64.9	63.3				78.3		$9,182	$1,028	$8,153
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%)	51.9	694^th of 1492 public elementary schools	53.5%		64	499^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.5%	195	63.6	49.0	81.1				47.7	47.1	62.2				83.8		$11,063	$1,857	$9,205
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%)	72.2	375^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.9%		51	733^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	50.8%	358	75.3	76.2	66.2				62.4	74.6	57.4				75.0		$9,435	$1,433	$8,002

Frequently Asked Questions about Oak Hill Elementary

How many students attend Oak Hill Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 310 students attended Oak Hill Elementary.

Is Oak Hill Elementary a good school?

Oak Hill Elementary ranks 1082^nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Oak Hill Elementary in?

Burke County Schools

What schools do graduates of Oak Hill Elementary attend?

Students who attend Oak Hill Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Table Rock Middle
High : Freedom High

What is the racial makeup of Oak Hill Elementary?

Students at Oak Hill Elementary are 63% White, 13% African American, 12% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races.

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Schools in Morganton, NC

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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.