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Mountain Heritage High

Q: Is Mountain Heritage High a good school?

Mountain Heritage High ranks 234 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

234^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 65% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Mountain Heritage High is a public high school in Burnsville, NC, part of Yancey County Schools, serving 642 students in grades 9–12. The school currently ranks in the 65th percentile of North Carolina high schools (234th of 662), a solid rebound from the previous year but still short of its historical 4-star standing. From 2015–16 through 2022–23, Mountain Heritage consistently ranked in the 74–81 percentile range, and while the 2024–25 year saw a noticeable dip, the most recent data points to a broad recovery.

One of the school's standout strengths is its graduation rate, which has climbed every year for four straight years—from 84.9% in 2022–23 to 94.4% in 2025–26, well above the state average of 88.8%. Chronic absenteeism is also exceptional at 10.1%, or roughly one-third of the statewide average, and the school has cut its rate dramatically since 2021–22. Academically, Mountain Heritage High posts strong results in science and English: biology proficiency is 81.6% compared to 58.5% statewide, and English II proficiency is 77.6% versus the state's 64.6%. Subgroup rankings are encouraging as well, with gifted students ranking in the 94th percentile and notable improvements for English learners, special education students, and Hispanic students in the most recent year.

The clearest academic vulnerability is Math I, where proficiency sits at 39.8%, below the state average of 42.1% and trailing nearby North Buncombe High at 49.4%. Math III, however, is solidly around the state average. Compared to Mitchell High, just 13 miles away and serving a similarly high-poverty student body, Mountain Heritage outperforms it on nearly every measure: graduation rate (94.4% vs. 80.6%), biology (81.6% vs. 65.6%), English II (77.6% vs. 61.1%), and chronic absenteeism (10.1% vs. 19.8%). Only Mayland Early College, a much smaller early-college model, earns higher test scores in the area. For a traditional comprehensive high school where nearly all students qualify for free/reduced lunch, Mountain Heritage offers a strong overall profile—and the biggest opportunity for growth lies in strengthening freshman-year math support.

642

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,483

Per pupil spending ?

98.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

333 Mtn Heritage HS Road
Burnsville, NC 28714

(828) 682-6103

District: Yancey County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.3%

Hispanic:

19.9%

Two or more races:

1.2%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Mountain Heritage High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 81st percentile in 2016 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (69% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (89%)

✓Above the North Carolina median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg69%

North Carolina avg60%

234^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 35%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

93^rd of 246Yancey 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	62.7	234 of 662	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.8	318 of 641	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	217 of 640	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.8	161 of 626	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	69.5	171 of 621	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	170 of 594	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	60.7	140 of 514	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.8	99 of 469	78.9%	★★★★☆
2017	63.0	118 of 476	75.2%	★★★★☆
2016	62.6	98 of 507	80.7%	★★★★☆
2015	61.5	112 of 531	78.9%	★★★★☆
2014	61.5	110 of 451	75.6%	★★★★☆
2013	63.2	70 of 505	86.1%	★★★★☆
2012	63.8	111 of 502	77.9%	★★★★☆
2011	52.2	269 of 506	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.2	218 of 499	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.5	151 of 490	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.5	121 of 477	74.6%	★★★★☆
2007	62.5	120 of 453	73.5%	★★★★☆
2006	66.7	98 of 431	77.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	36.4	186 of 330	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.2	150 of 334	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.2	166 of 364	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.4	107 of 349	69.3%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.0	62 of 289	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	56.5	71 of 273	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	49.1	99 of 262	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.4	115 of 226	49.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.5	248 of 629	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.9	280 of 610	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.5	170 of 602	71.8%	★★★★☆
2023	75.8	142 of 588	75.9%	★★★★☆
2022	75.4	141 of 594	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	70.0	86 of 475	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	69.1	99 of 475	79.2%	★★★★☆
2018	71.0	98 of 449	78.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	23 of 407	94.3%	★★★★★
2025	76.1	91 of 412	77.9%	★★★★☆
2024	69.7	114 of 403	71.7%	★★★★☆
2023	76.9	78 of 403	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	64.5	159 of 398	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.6	103 of 337	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.6	231 of 325	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	171 of 474	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	31.8	321 of 462	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	222 of 454	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	165 of 449	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.3	216 of 436	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.2	88 of 370	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	46.8	135 of 354	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.9	220 of 340	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.8	207 of 620	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.4	254 of 606	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	190 of 613	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.8	151 of 597	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	67.5	134 of 544	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	67.3	40 of 432	90.7%	★★★★★
2019	60.3	78 of 446	82.5%	★★★★☆
2018	73.1	50 of 424	88.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.5	219 of 624	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.0	333 of 601	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.5	259 of 607	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.9	172 of 602	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	187 of 585	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	106 of 481	78.0%	★★★★☆
2019	53.9	178 of 488	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.9	102 of 463	78.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	111 of 372	70.2%	★★★★☆
2025	26.3	280 of 352	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.1	243 of 349	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.6	267 of 551	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.0	366 of 542	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.7	243 of 553	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.0	173 of 537	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.4	183 of 534	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.9	140 of 439	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.0	196 of 444	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.7	140 of 427	67.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)94th percentile+30 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)79th percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2026)70th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)67th percentile~ school

Male (2026)65th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)64th percentile~ school

Female (2026)61st percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)52nd percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2022)44th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Biology82%+23 vs state

English II78%+13 vs state

Math III70%~ state avg

Math I40%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Mountain Heritage High

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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
Mountain Heritage High	Public	9-12	333 Mtn Heritage HS Road	Burnsville	28714	Yancey County	Yancey County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 682-6103	642	47	13.6	98.9%	503 (78.3%)	1 (0.2%)	128 (19.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.2%)	62.7	234^th of 662 public high schools	64.7%		47.8	318^th of 641 public high schools	50.4%	84	81.6	77.6	39.8	69.8	$11,483	$884	$10,599
Mitchell High	Public	9-12	416 Ledger School Rd	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-3400	482	39	12.2	98.8%	396 (82.2%)	4 (0.8%)	68 (14.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	43.1	385^th of 662 public high schools	41.8%		23	506^th of 641 public high schools	21.1%	121	65.6	61.1	37.4	52.5	$11,982	$572	$11,410
North Buncombe High	Public	9-12	890 Clarks Chapel Road	Weaverville	28787	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 645-4221	896	54	16.5	99.0%	689 (76.9%)	9 (1.0%)	153 (17.1%)	7 (0.8%)	5 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	31 (3.5%)	52.9	309^th of 662 public high schools	53.3%		58.3	238^th of 641 public high schools	62.9%	71	66.2	68.9	49.4	64.0	$9,935	$695	$9,241
Mayland Early College	Public	9-12	264 Mayland Dr	Spruce Pine	28777	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-2590	113	5	23.2	97.3%	91 (80.5%)	1 (0.9%)	11 (9.7%)	3 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (6.2%)	84.6	109^th of 662 public high schools	83.5%		83.9	115^th of 641 public high schools	82.1%	6	88.9	78.6		92.0	$7,370	$209	$7,160

Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Heritage High

What district is Mountain Heritage High in?

Yancey County Schools

How many students attend Mountain Heritage High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 642 students attended Mountain Heritage High.

Is Mountain Heritage High a good school?

Mountain Heritage High ranks 234^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Mountain Heritage High?

Students at Mountain Heritage High are 78% White, 20% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

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Schools in Burnsville, 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.