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Train Depot, Morganton, North Carolina (2008)Photo: Ron Reiring · CC BY 2.0
B
Schools in Morganton · Burke County Schools

Morganton’s public schools outscore 56% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Morganton, 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.

#122of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
50%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 3 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 2 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.5K
▼ 4% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.8
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
12
4,400 students on the public path
In brief

Morganton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 317 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Morganton’s, its schools beat 69%, higher than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 54% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,539 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

New Dimensions and Morganton Day School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Morganton’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 56% of North Carolina school districts, #122 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (317)Better than 69%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,816 test results and a graduating class of 994 could put Morganton anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Morganton’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,539 in math, 6,092 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Morganton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to B−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A

Morganton’s public schools are run by Burke County Schools, which also serves Connelly Springs, Drexel, Glen Alpine and Hildebran and others. 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.

Burke County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 26 schools · 11,667 students · 16.8 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,539NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 49.9% · 6092 students tested
Math54%
State average 50.8% · 5539 students tested

Morganton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Morganton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MorgantonBBurke County Schools
Glen AlpineBBurke County Schools

Every school in Morganton

12 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).

District schools in Morgantonby address
Mountain View Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
762 students15:1Rate it →
Forest Hill Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
305 students16:1Rate it →
Hillcrest Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
254 students14:1Rate it →
Liberty Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
453 students16:1Rate it →
Walter R Johnson Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
441 students13:1Rate it →
Freedom High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,299 students23:1Rate it →
Patton High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
756 students24:1Rate it →
Burke Middle College
High · Grades 11–12
A+
130 studentsRate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
North Liberty
Grades PK–12
D−
Special Education
72 students6:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
New Dimensions
Elementary · Grades K–8
A
Charter
569 students15:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Morgantonrun by other districts or the state
NC School for the Deaf
Grades PK–12
Special Education
64 students3:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Morganton Day School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Nonsectarian
98 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Morganton’s schools

Are Morganton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Morganton children attend outscore 56% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #122 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Morganton in?

Burke County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,667 students in 26 schools (2024–25).

Where do Morganton kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Freedom High and Patton High School.

What is Morganton’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Burke County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Morganton spend per student?

$12,539 in Burke County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Morganton?

Yes: Morganton Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 98 students). Morganton also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Morganton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Morganton → 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.