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Draughn High School

Q: Is Draughn High School a good school?

Draughn High School ranks 201 st of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

201^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 70% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Draughn High School is a public school in Valdese, North Carolina, serving 661 students in grades 9–12 through Burke County Schools. Draughn ranked #201 out of 662 high schools statewide in 2025–26, putting it in the 70th percentile and among the top 30% of North Carolina high schools. Among nearby traditional high schools, only Patton High School ranks comparably at #202; East Burke High, Freedom High, Hibriten High, South Caldwell High, and West Caldwell High all fall in the 43rd percentile or lower. The only local schools ranked higher are selective early-college programs — Caldwell Early College and Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy.

Draughn’s mathematics achievement is exceptional. In 2025–26, 77.9% of students scored proficient on Math I versus 42.1% statewide, and 85.1% were proficient in Math III compared with 68.9% statewide. Draughn’s Math I result was actually higher than those of Caldwell Early College (60.3%), Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy (70.7%), and Patton High School (72.2%). The school also outperformed state averages in Biology (62.7% vs. 58.5%) and English II (66.3% vs. 64.6%). Draughn’s graduation rate of 93.1% exceeds both Burke County Schools as a whole (91.1%) and the state (88.8%). These achievements are especially noteworthy because over 98% of Draughn students qualify for free or reduced lunch; in fact, the school’s low-income students rank at the 70th percentile statewide and have earned a 4-star rating.

The biggest weakness is chronic absenteeism: 24.9% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, well above the district’s 18.3% and higher than at Patton (19.4%), East Burke (22.8%), and Freedom (23.8%). Another concern is the student-teacher ratio, which jumped from 18.7 to 27.3 between 2023–24 and 2024–25. That shift could make it harder for Draughn to maintain the strong supports that help its special education students, who rank at the 93rd percentile statewide. Gifted students, by contrast, rank at only the 47th percentile, so stretching advanced learners is a clear opportunity. Despite these issues, Draughn is a strong neighborhood high school that delivers results unusual for a school with such high poverty rates.

661

Students ?

27.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,112

Per pupil spending ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

709 Lovelady Road NE
Valdese, NC 28690

(828) 879-4200

District: Burke County Schools

Feeder schools for Draughn High School:

Elementary:	Drexel Elementary
	Valdese Elementary
Middle:	Heritage Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.9%

Hispanic:

10.4%

Asian:

6.5%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Draughn High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 69th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (73% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (89%)

✓Above the North Carolina median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 27 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school73%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg60%

201^st of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High Schools in the Burke County Schools

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	68.2	201 of 662	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.0	235 of 641	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.4	172 of 640	73.1%	★★★★☆
2023	66.2	189 of 626	69.8%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	159 of 621	74.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.0	207 of 594	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.3	157 of 514	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.2	145 of 469	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.0	115 of 476	75.8%	★★★★☆
2016	50.4	159 of 507	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.2	114 of 531	78.5%	★★★★☆
2014	73.5	57 of 451	87.4%	★★★★☆
2013	56.5	99 of 505	80.4%	★★★★☆
2012	68.2	84 of 502	83.3%	★★★★☆
2011	67.8	105 of 506	79.2%	★★★★☆
2010	67.3	99 of 499	80.2%	★★★★☆
2009	63.6	129 of 490	73.7%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.0	32 of 103	68.9%	★★★★☆
2025	24.6	85 of 106	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.2	64 of 101	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.7	48 of 98	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.8	37 of 91	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.6	43 of 83	48.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	48 of 89	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.4	51 of 77	33.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	76.2	32 of 330	90.3%	★★★★★
2021	63.4	65 of 334	80.5%	★★★★☆
2019	44.8	175 of 364	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	26.2	272 of 349	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.9	191 of 629	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.1	202 of 610	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.0	163 of 602	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	62.7	210 of 588	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.3	152 of 594	74.4%	★★★★☆
2021	64.0	115 of 475	75.8%	★★★★☆
2019	55.3	167 of 475	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.7	185 of 449	58.8%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.2	214 of 407	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.3	361 of 412	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.1	265 of 403	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.7	203 of 403	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.4	85 of 398	78.6%	★★★★☆
2021	73.3	63 of 337	81.3%	★★★★☆
2019	53.7	166 of 325	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.6	206 of 474	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.1	155 of 462	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.0	112 of 454	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	55.8	152 of 449	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	80.0	79 of 436	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	59.0	67 of 370	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	64.7	54 of 354	84.7%	★★★★☆
2018	88.1	19 of 340	94.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.0	184 of 620	70.3%	★★★★☆
2025	54.2	217 of 606	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.2	179 of 613	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.5	170 of 597	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	105 of 544	80.7%	★★★★☆
2021	58.2	75 of 432	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	62.9	66 of 446	85.2%	★★★★☆
2018	53.0	137 of 424	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.5	200 of 624	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.4	270 of 601	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	189 of 607	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.1	179 of 602	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	69.8	161 of 585	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	56.1	142 of 481	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	58.0	142 of 488	70.9%	★★★★☆
2018	62.8	130 of 463	71.9%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.6	122 of 372	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	83.0	25 of 352	92.9%	★★★★★
2024	53.9	106 of 349	69.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.3	258 of 551	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.8	279 of 542	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.8	213 of 553	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.2	237 of 537	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	235 of 534	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.4	203 of 439	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.6	203 of 444	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.6	234 of 427	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)90th percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile~ school

Female (2026)70th percentile~ school

Asian (2026)69th percentile~ school

Male (2026)68th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)67th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)57th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)53rd percentile-16 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)47th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III85%+16 vs state

Math I78%+36 vs state

English II66%~ state avg

Biology63%+4 vs state

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Schools Near Draughn High School

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (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	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
Draughn High School	Public	9-12	709 Lovelady Road NE	Valdese	28690	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 879-4200	661	24	27.3	—	495 (74.9%)	13 (2.0%)	69 (10.4%)	43 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	36 (5.4%)	68.2	201^st of 662 public high schools	69.6%		59	235^th of 641 public high schools	63.3%	34	62.7	66.3	77.9	85.1	$9,112	$776	$8,336
Hallyburton Academy	Public	6-12	205 South Main Street	Drexel	28619	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 437-4184	73	9	8.4	95.9%	45 (61.6%)	5 (6.8%)	12 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	10 (13.7%)								(n/a)	18.8				$18,048	$1,530	$16,517
East Burke High	Public	9-12	3695 East Burke Boulevard	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 397-5541	874	38	23.1	—	655 (74.9%)	16 (1.8%)	86 (9.8%)	71 (8.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (5.0%)	44.1	377^th of 662 public high schools	43.1%		56.3	254^th of 641 public high schools	60.4%	123	52.1	62.7	49.0	62.5	$9,240	$806	$8,435
South Caldwell High	Public	9-12	7035 Spartan Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 396-2188	1,272	67	19.0	—	1,030 (81.0%)	25 (2.0%)	151 (11.9%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (4.6%)	40.5	398^th of 662 public high schools	39.9%		51	288^th of 641 public high schools	55.1%	110	49.0	62.0	30.0	74.5	$9,486	$729	$8,757
Caldwell Early College	Public	9-12	2859 Hickory Blvd SW	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 759-4636	387	16	24.9	39.0%	285 (73.6%)	8 (2.1%)	68 (17.6%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	85.6	102^nd of 662 public high schools	84.6%		87.2	95^th of 641 public high schools	85.2%	7	94.9	96.3	60.3	89.4	$7,027	$517	$6,510
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy	Public	9-12	2857 Hickory Boulevard	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 759-4640	218	10	21.1	33.9%	173 (79.4%)	4 (1.8%)	25 (11.5%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.5%)	80.6	137^th of 662 public high schools	79.3%		84.4	113^th of 641 public high schools	82.4%	24	80.0	90.0	70.7	82.0	$8,388	$210	$8,178
Patton High School	Public	9-12	701 Enola Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 433-3000	756	31	24.3	—	530 (70.1%)	10 (1.3%)	165 (21.8%)	22 (2.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.6%)	67.9	202^nd of 662 public high schools	69.5%		54.2	267^th of 641 public high schools	58.3%	65	69.3	72.4	72.2	74.7	$9,266	$744	$8,523
Burke Middle College	Public	11-12	1001 Burkemont Ave	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 448-3175	130	3	43.3	97.7%	69 (53.1%)	2 (1.5%)	14 (10.8%)	40 (30.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.8%)								(n/a)				87.5	$4,804	$268	$4,536
West Caldwell High	Public	9-12	300 W Caldwell Drive	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 758-5583	634	36	17.7	—	364 (57.4%)	63 (9.9%)	147 (23.2%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (8.5%)	14.8	584^th of 662 public high schools	11.8%		17.6	542^nd of 641 public high schools	15.4%	42	34.4	50.0	21.5	28.8	$11,229	$831	$10,398
Freedom High	Public	9-12	511 Independence Boulevard	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 433-1310	1,299	57	22.7	—	595 (45.8%)	93 (7.2%)	459 (35.3%)	54 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	98 (7.5%)	42	392^nd of 662 public high schools	40.8%		30.4	440^th of 641 public high schools	31.4%	48	54.9	56.4	49.6	61.3	$8,511	$796	$7,716

Frequently Asked Questions about Draughn High School

What is the racial makeup of Draughn High School?

Students at Draughn High School are 75% White, 10% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Draughn High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 661 students attended Draughn High School.

What district is Draughn High School in?

Burke County Schools

Is Draughn High School a good school?

Draughn High School ranks 201^st of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Draughn High School?

Draughn High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Drexel Elementary
Elementary : Valdese Elementary
Middle : 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.