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Rock HouseRock House · Photo: MarmadukePercy · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Pilot Mountain · Surry County Schools

Pilot Mountain’s public schools outscore 68% of North Carolina districts

In Pilot Mountain, 60% of tested students are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pilot Mountain, 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.

K–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
54%
▲ 4 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
60%
▲ 9 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 4 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.5K
▼ 4% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.8
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
2,470 students on the public path
In brief

Pilot Mountain’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 306 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pilot Mountain’s, its schools beat 89%, higher than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 60% 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 $12,463 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then four middle and one high school

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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Pilot Mountain’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 68% of North Carolina school districts. 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 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (306)Better than 89%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,618 test results and a graduating class of 630 could put Pilot Mountain anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Pilot Mountain’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,466 in math, 3,771 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Pilot Mountain ElementarySurry County SchoolsB+
6–84 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB
9–12East Surry HighSurry County SchoolsA−

Pilot Mountain’s public schools are run by Surry County Schools, which also serves Dobson and Mount Airy. 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.

Surry County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 20 schools · 7,318 students · 14.8 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,463NC $13,045 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 49.9% · 3771 students tested
Math60%
State average 50.8% · 3466 students tested

Pilot Mountain vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Pilot MountainB+Surry County Schools

Every school in Pilot Mountain

6 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 Pilot Mountainby address
Pilot Mountain Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
353 students15:1Rate it →
East Surry High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
576 students18:1Rate it →
Also serving Pilot Mountainin other towns
Central Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dobson
B
502 students16:1Rate it →
Pilot Mountain Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
401 students16:1Rate it →
J Sam Gentry Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mount Airy
B
320 students14:1Rate it →
Meadowview Magnet Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mount Airy
B
318 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Pilot Mountain’s schools

Are Pilot Mountain’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Pilot Mountain children attend outscore 68% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pilot Mountain in?

Surry County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,318 students in 20 schools (2024–25).

Where do Pilot Mountain kids go to high school?

East Surry High, with 576 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Pilot Mountain’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Surry County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Pilot Mountain spend per student?

$12,463 in Surry County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pilot Mountain families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pilot Mountain → 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.