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North Wilkes High School

Q: Is North Wilkes High School a good school?

North Wilkes High School ranks 196 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

196^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 70% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

North Wilkes High School is a public high school in Hays, North Carolina, serving 578 students in grades 9-12 as part of Wilkes County Schools. In its most recent state ranking, North Wilkes High School earned 4 out of 5 stars and placed in the 70th percentile of North Carolina high schools, making it the strongest traditional high school in the county. It outranks East Wilkes High School, West Wilkes High School, Wilkes Central High School, and nearby Starmount High and Alleghany High. Only the selective Wilkes Early College High School and nearby Elkin High finish higher in the area.

The school's clearest academic strength is math. On end-of-course tests, 73% of North Wilkes students passed Math I, compared with 42% statewide, and 83% passed Math III, about 14 points above the state. English II scores also top the state average, and the graduation rate has climbed from 87% to nearly 95% in four years. North Wilkes also stands out for how well it serves different groups of students: gifted students rank in the 88th percentile statewide, low-income students rank in the 75th percentile, and Hispanic and female students also perform well relative to their peers across North Carolina.

Attendance is the main area to watch. About one in four students was chronically absent in the latest school year, close to the state average but well above the district average of roughly 17%. The trend is improving, however, with chronic absenteeism falling from nearly 38% three years earlier. Biology is another relative weak spot: 56% of students passed the end-of-course test, slightly below the state's 59%. These results are especially notable because nearly 98% of North Wilkes students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and nearby Elkin High, which serves a much wealthier population, only slightly outranks North Wilkes overall. If attendance keeps improving, this school could climb even higher.

578

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2986 Traphill Rd
Hays, NC 28635

(336) 903-4040

District: Wilkes County Schools

Feeder schools for North Wilkes High School:

Elementary:	Mountain View Elementary School
	Mulberry Elementary School
	Traphill Elementary School
Middle:	North Wilkes Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.1%

Hispanic:

15.9%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare North Wilkes High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (72% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (88%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg66%

North Carolina avg60%

196^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

89^th of 246Wilkes 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	68.7	196 of 662	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	62.3	217 of 641	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.1	174 of 640	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	68.4	182 of 626	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	52.4	270 of 621	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.2	238 of 594	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.0	192 of 514	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.9	172 of 469	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	33.2	291 of 476	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.6	236 of 507	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	41.0	253 of 531	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	27.2	298 of 451	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.8	199 of 505	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.2	156 of 502	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.5	148 of 506	70.8%	★★★★☆
2010	49.2	288 of 499	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	51.8	242 of 490	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.3	191 of 477	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	49.4	230 of 453	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	54.9	194 of 431	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	72.2	46 of 330	86.1%	★★★★☆
2021	18.7	313 of 334	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	347 of 364	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.1	237 of 349	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.2	178 of 629	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	69.3	177 of 610	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	81.9	120 of 602	80.1%	★★★★☆
2023	75.5	146 of 588	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	56.7	246 of 594	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.9	130 of 475	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	50.7	200 of 475	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	146 of 449	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	48 of 407	88.2%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	49 of 412	88.1%	★★★★☆
2024	66.6	138 of 403	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.4	120 of 403	70.2%	★★★★☆
2022	63.6	164 of 398	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.4	89 of 337	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	78.7	31 of 325	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	71.3	22 of 100	78.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.1	124 of 474	73.8%	★★★★☆
2025	50.1	190 of 462	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.5	94 of 454	79.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	95 of 449	78.8%	★★★★☆
2022	73.5	95 of 436	78.2%	★★★★☆
2021	70.5	39 of 370	89.5%	★★★★☆
2019	54.9	94 of 354	73.4%	★★★★☆
2018	63.8	69 of 340	79.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.8	158 of 620	74.5%	★★★★☆
2025	56.9	203 of 606	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.9	155 of 613	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	68.4	146 of 597	75.5%	★★★★☆
2022	58.4	170 of 544	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.7	52 of 432	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	55.4	104 of 446	76.7%	★★★★☆
2018	55.9	122 of 424	71.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.2	208 of 624	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.4	246 of 601	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.4	215 of 607	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.1	217 of 602	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.5	284 of 585	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.0	177 of 481	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.2	190 of 488	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.8	217 of 463	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	132 of 372	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.1	153 of 352	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	67 of 349	80.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.1	236 of 551	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.5	256 of 542	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.5	234 of 553	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	233 of 537	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.8	344 of 534	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.2	229 of 439	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.1	249 of 444	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.0	294 of 427	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)88th percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2022)86th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)74th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)72nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)67th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)65th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)57th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III83%+14 vs state

Math I73%+31 vs state

English II71%+7 vs state

Biology56%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near North Wilkes 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/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	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
North Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	2986 Traphill Rd	Hays	28635	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 903-4040	578	40	14.4	97.9%	457 (79.1%)	6 (1.0%)	92 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.8%)	68.7	196^th of 662 public high schools	70.4%		62.3	217^th of 641 public high schools	66.1%	21	55.9	71.3	73.0	83.0	$9,880	$1,015	$8,865
East Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	13315 Elkin Hwy 268	Ronda	28670	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 651-7200	469	28	16.4	99.4%	407 (86.8%)	5 (1.1%)	30 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.3%)	50.5	325^th of 662 public high schools	50.9%		45.8	333^rd of 641 public high schools	48.0%	8	61.2	66.1	40.7	72.1	$10,562	$769	$9,794
West Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	6598 Boone Trail	Millers Creek	28651	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 903-6710	582	41	14.3	99.3%	464 (79.7%)	4 (0.7%)	97 (16.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.4%)	49.7	331^st of 662 public high schools	50.0%		50.2	293^rd of 641 public high schools	54.3%	38	45.7	64.9	50.0	77.9	$9,570	$787	$8,783
Wilkes Early College High School	Public	9-12	1328 S Collegiate Dr	Wilkesboro	28697	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 838-6247	265	9	29.4	98.9%	205 (77.4%)	6 (2.3%)	36 (13.6%)	7 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.2%)	90.5	71^st of 662 public high schools	89.3%		89.7	79^th of 641 public high schools	87.7%	8	83.9	94.7	89.7	99.9	$6,729	$458	$6,271
Wilkes Central High School	Public	9-12	1179 Moravian Falls Rd	Wilkesboro	28697	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 667-5277	719	49	14.6	99.6%	365 (50.8%)	79 (11.0%)	191 (26.6%)	7 (1.0%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (10.3%)	48.4	341^st of 662 public high schools	48.5%		45.9	332^nd of 641 public high schools	48.2%	9	45.5	63.2	56.7	71.8	$9,054	$938	$8,116
Elkin High	Public	9-12	334 Elk Spur St	Elkin	28621	Surry County	Elkin City Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 835-3858	401	28	14.5	50.9%	264 (65.8%)	14 (3.5%)	97 (24.2%)	10 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.0%)	72.7	173^rd of 662 public high schools	73.9%		72.6	168^th of 641 public high schools	73.8%	5	59.6	74.7	84.6	94.6	$12,105	$1,046	$11,058
Alleghany High	Public	9-12	404 Trojan Avenue	Sparta	28675	Alleghany County	Alleghany County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 372-4554	395	34	11.6	99.2%	284 (71.9%)	4 (1.0%)	96 (24.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.8%)	66.5	208^th of 662 public high schools	68.6%		50.8	289^th of 641 public high schools	54.9%	81	64.8	68.3	68.5	82.3	$13,265	$926	$12,339
Starmount High	Public	9-12	2516 Longtown Rd	Boonville	27011	Yadkin County	Yadkin County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 551-1150	556	26	21.2	62.9%	349 (62.8%)	25 (4.5%)	152 (27.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (4.9%)	38.3	417^th of 662 public high schools	37.0%		27.7	475^th of 641 public high schools	25.9%	58	49.2	48.5	45.1	69.4	$10,534	$904	$9,629

Frequently Asked Questions about North Wilkes High School

What schools feed into North Wilkes High School?

North Wilkes High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Mountain View Elementary School
Elementary : Mulberry Elementary School
Elementary : Traphill Elementary School
Middle : North Wilkes Middle School

How many students attend North Wilkes High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 578 students attended North Wilkes High School.

What is the racial makeup of North Wilkes High School?

Students at North Wilkes High School are 79% White, 16% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What district is North Wilkes High School in?

Wilkes County Schools

Is North Wilkes High School a good school?

North Wilkes High School ranks 196^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate North Wilkes High School!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.