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W A Young Elementary

Q: Is W A Young Elementary a good school?

W A Young Elementary ranks 527 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

527^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 65% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

W A Young Elementary is a public Pre-K through 5th-grade school in Morganton, NC, serving 327 students in Burke County Schools, where more than 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In the latest ranking cycle, W A Young Elementary ranked 527th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools — the 65th percentile and a 3-star rating. That makes it the third-highest-ranked elementary in the immediate area, behind Salem Elementary (82nd percentile) and Drexel Elementary (75th), but ahead of Glen Alpine Elementary, Mull Elementary, and Mountain View Elementary.

Academically, the school beat district and state averages in five of seven EOG subject/grade combinations in the most recent testing year. W A Young is especially strong in 4th-grade math (73.9% proficient), 4th- and 5th-grade reading (63.0% and 63.4%), and 5th-grade science (75.6%); its 5th-grade reading score essentially ties higher-ranked Salem Elementary. The school also shines with economically disadvantaged students, whose results rank in the 80th percentile statewide. W A Young has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio among nearby elementaries at 12.9:1, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8% is well below the county (18.3%) and state (24.2%) rates — meaningful for a high-poverty school recovering from a 56.5% pandemic-era peak.

The clearest academic opportunities are in 5th-grade math (56.1% proficient versus 65.6% for the district) and 3rd-grade reading (52.2% versus 55.9%). Though the school's ranking fell to the 36th percentile in 2024-2025, it rebounded to the 65th percentile the next year with enormous gains across every 5th-grade subject — evidence that the dip was tied to one student cohort rather than a lasting decline. One metric to watch is the gifted and talented subgroup, which swung from the 86th percentile to the 5th percentile between reporting years; small group size may explain the change, but it is worth asking about advanced academic services. Overall, W A Young is a solid upper-third school that compares favorably with most nearby options, and its success with students from low-income households is genuinely noteworthy.

327

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

95.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

325 Conley Road
Morganton, NC 28655

(828) 584-0632

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend W A Young Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Table Rock Middle
High:	Freedom High

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.2%

Asian:

9.8%

Two or more races:

7.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare W A Young Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2016 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 38 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the North Carolina median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg61%

527^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 38 pts since 2016

From bottom 27% (2016) to top 35% (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	63.5	527 of 1492	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.9	953 of 1490	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.4	499 of 1505	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	645 of 1502	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.0	629 of 1514	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.8	808 of 1489	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.6	979 of 1473	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.5	833 of 1434	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	49.1	759 of 1429	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	32.3	1043 of 1425	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	44.2	840 of 1440	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.3	787 of 1390	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	40.4	838 of 1403	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	60.1	600 of 1388	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.5	422 of 1381	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.5	365 of 1363	73.2%	★★★★☆
2009	68.3	432 of 1354	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.0	469 of 1324	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	45.1	819 of 1293	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	68.9	355 of 1276	72.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	34.9	405 of 634	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.7	774 of 878	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.2	883 of 897	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.4	405 of 1447	72.0%	★★★★☆
2025	35.4	984 of 1451	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.6	539 of 1455	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.0	680 of 1459	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.0	652 of 1458	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.3	807 of 1440	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.9	957 of 1424	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.0	831 of 1405	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	703 of 743	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	70.7	99 of 710	86.1%	★★★★☆
2024	53.0	429 of 669	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	65.9	83 of 612	86.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.8	287 of 1434	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	41.8	872 of 1437	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	70.1	321 of 1450	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	66.9	375 of 1437	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	65.6	350 of 1366	74.4%	★★★★☆
2021	54.9	497 of 1329	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.8	958 of 1361	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.8	672 of 1332	49.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.8	606 of 1451	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.5	853 of 1450	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.9	433 of 1464	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	591 of 1461	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.5	591 of 1464	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.2	762 of 1444	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	931 of 1430	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.8	794 of 1413	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.9	788 of 1146	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	15.3	1078 of 1172	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	39.0	766 of 1166	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.0	911 of 1183	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.9	853 of 1194	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	1034 of 1172	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.8	1035 of 1183	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.0	1039 of 1178	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)80th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2026)72nd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)58th percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2022)36th percentile-22 vs school

White (2026)31st percentile-33 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)5th percentile-59 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science76%+8 vs state

Mathematics68%+4 vs state

Reading59%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near W A Young 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
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
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	—	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
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	—	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
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	—	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
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	—	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
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
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
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
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	—	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	—	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 W A Young Elementary

How many students attend W A Young Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 327 students attended W A Young Elementary.

Is W A Young Elementary a good school?

W A Young Elementary ranks 527^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of W A Young Elementary attend?

Students who attend W A Young Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Table Rock Middle
High : Freedom High

What is the racial makeup of W A Young Elementary?

Students at W A Young Elementary are 75% White, 10% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What district is W A Young Elementary in?

Burke County Schools

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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.