Holbrook Farm · Photo: G Keith Hall · CC BY-SA 3.0Hays’s public schools outscore 67% of North Carolina districts
Math proficiency in Hays’s districts is 59%, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Hays, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.
From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Hays’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 325 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hays’s, its schools beat 86%, higher than their 67% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 59% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,811 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then four middle and five high schools
Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Hays’s grade
B+: better than 67% of North Carolina school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hays, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Hays
Mountain View Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 488 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Hays’s public schools are run by Wilkes County Schools, which also serves North Wilkesboro, Ronda and Wilkesboro. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Hays vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Hays’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Hays | B+ | Wilkes County Schools |
Every school in Hays
10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Hays’s schools
Are Hays’s schools good?
By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Hays children attend outscore 67% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 86%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Hays in?
Wilkes County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,547 students in 22 schools (2024–25).
Where do Hays kids go to high school?
One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Wilkes Central High School, West Wilkes High School, North Wilkes High School, East Wilkes High School and Wilkes Early College High School.
What is Hays’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Wilkes County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Hays spend per student?
$12,811 in Wilkes County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Hays families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hays → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.