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Valdese Elementary

Q: Is Valdese Elementary a good school?

Valdese Elementary ranks 593 rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

593^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 60% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Valdese Elementary is a PreK–5 school in Valdese, NC, serving about 530 students as part of Burke County Schools. The school currently holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 60th percentile of elementary schools statewide — a solid result, but not quite the top-quartile, 4-star standing it regularly earned before the pandemic. Its strongest academic showing comes in upper elementary, where 5th-grade math (78.7% proficient) and science (81.9% proficient) comfortably beat district and state averages in 2025–2026. Reading at that level also edged past the state. The clear weak spot is 4th grade, where both math (53.3%) and reading (45.6%) fell below district and state averages. Scores have swung noticeably from year to year at various grade levels, suggesting that particular cohorts and teachers are driving results more than any single schoolwide trend.

How Valdese serves different students is nuanced. Its economically disadvantaged students — who make up over 99% of the enrollment — rank in the 67th percentile statewide, a sign the school is relatively effective for its largest group. Special education students have also improved markedly in recent years. The biggest opportunity lies with gifted-identified students, who rank in just the 30th percentile. Attendance is another challenge: 18.1% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025. That is below the state average, but it is the highest rate among the nearby elementary schools in this comparison — including Icard Elementary, Ray Childers Elementary, and Drexel Elementary — and it has risen for three consecutive years even as district and state rates have fallen.

Valdese also operates with the leanest resources of its local comparison group: its per-pupil spending of roughly $8,594 is the lowest among nearby schools, and its student-teacher ratio of 17.8 is the highest. That makes its solid statewide standing and strong science outcomes all the more notable. Still, well-funded neighbors like Icard and Drexel are pulling ahead, and the school's chronic absenteeism and advanced-learner support are the two areas where targeted attention could most improve its overall rating.

530

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

298 Praley Street
Valdese, NC 28690

(828) 874-0704

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend Valdese Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Heritage Middle
High:	Draughn High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.6%

Hispanic:

8.3%

Asian:

4.7%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Valdese Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 60th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

!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 school64%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg61%

593^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 40%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 40% (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	59.4	593 of 1492	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.5	623 of 1490	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.2	502 of 1505	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.8	486 of 1502	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.6	540 of 1514	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	520 of 1489	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.5	281 of 1473	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	69.6	415 of 1434	71.1%	★★★★☆
2017	75.9	308 of 1429	78.4%	★★★★☆
2016	70.6	382 of 1425	73.2%	★★★★☆
2015	75.3	319 of 1440	77.8%	★★★★☆
2014	70.0	389 of 1390	72.0%	★★★★☆
2013	76.4	277 of 1403	80.3%	★★★★☆
2012	70.6	392 of 1388	71.8%	★★★★☆
2011	68.4	444 of 1381	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	76.3	273 of 1363	80.0%	★★★★☆
2009	73.7	325 of 1354	76.0%	★★★★☆
2008	83.6	143 of 1324	89.2%	★★★★☆
2007	83.2	117 of 1293	91.0%	★★★★★
2006	82.3	143 of 1276	88.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	56.4	288 of 878	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	32.8	645 of 897	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.2	663 of 1447	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.5	684 of 1451	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.8	534 of 1455	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.4	409 of 1459	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	60.3	542 of 1458	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.4	476 of 1440	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.4	145 of 1424	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	71.4	371 of 1405	73.6%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.9	518 of 743	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.0	607 of 710	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.0	587 of 669	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	56.1	342 of 582	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.4	275 of 500	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.7	231 of 494	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.0	350 of 612	42.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	84.5	71 of 865	91.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.3	473 of 1434	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.2	554 of 1437	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.2	439 of 1450	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.4	368 of 1437	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	65.7	348 of 1366	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.9	241 of 1329	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	167 of 1361	87.7%	★★★★☆
2018	76.2	205 of 1332	84.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.0	538 of 1451	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.1	564 of 1450	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	471 of 1464	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.5	554 of 1461	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	529 of 1464	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.6	535 of 1444	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.3	481 of 1430	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.4	485 of 1413	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	499 of 821	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.3	682 of 801	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.3	689 of 1146	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.3	812 of 1172	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.8	705 of 1166	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.5	705 of 1183	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.6	658 of 1194	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.8	685 of 1172	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.2	479 of 1183	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.7	601 of 1178	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2019)92nd percentile+11 vs school

Disabled (2019)67th percentile-14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)67th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)54th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)40th percentile-20 vs school

Special Education (2025)39th percentile-19 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)30th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science82%+14 vs state

Mathematics65%~ state avg

Reading56%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Valdese 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
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%)	59.4	593^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	60.3%		56.5	623^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	58.2%	30	62.2	53.3	78.7				62.2	45.6	60.6				81.9		$8,594	$1,111	$7,483
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
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%)	55	654^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.2%		60	564^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.1%	90	78.7	53.8	61.2				66.0	50.0	53.1				69.4		$9,953	$1,175	$8,778
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%)	76.6	290^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.6%		58.5	588^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.5%	298	81.6	72.1	76.9				68.4	60.5	61.5				82.1		$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%)	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
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
Sawmills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4436 Sawmills School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2610	351	20	17.2	99.1%	272 (77.5%)	7 (2.0%)	46 (13.1%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	32.5	1049^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.7%		36.5	973^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.7%	76	51.0	35.4	58.8				51.0	52.1	52.9				55.9		$11,245	$974	$10,271
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Valdese Elementary

How many students attend Valdese Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 530 students attended Valdese Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Valdese Elementary?

Students at Valdese Elementary are 80% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What district is Valdese Elementary in?

Burke County Schools

What schools do graduates of Valdese Elementary attend?

Students who attend Valdese Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Heritage Middle
High : Draughn High School

Is Valdese Elementary a good school?

Valdese Elementary ranks 593^rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Valdese Elementary!

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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.