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B−

Mitchell County Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 2 towns

Serves Spruce Pine and Bakersville.

Spruce Pine’s School Grade B− better than 46% of North Carolina school districts

Students
1,738
Schools
6
Spent per student
$15,355
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
98%
The gist

What stands out about Mitchell County Schools

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 46% of North Carolina districts
  • Spends 18% more per student than the NC average
  • 14 students per teacher
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 46% of the 325 North Carolina school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math close to the state, 2021–22
B−
GraduationFour-year graduation below the state, class of 2023
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B−Spruce Pine 2,211Bakersville 468

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Spruce Pine. Grade by grade →

PK–22 elementary schoolsThis district
3–5Mitchell Elementary SchoolThis district
6–8Mitchell Middle SchoolThis district
9–122 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. NC

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency51%
State average 50.8% · 841 students tested
Reading / language arts50%
State average 49.9% · 917 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)80–84%
State average 86.5% · 154 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$15,355 per student · 18% above NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 56%Support & administration 40%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 9%State 79%Federal 12%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Students
White 82%Hispanic 14%Two or more races 3%Black <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools.

Greenlee Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Spruce Pine
246 students13:1
Gouge Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Bakersville
B
144 students11:1
Mitchell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Bakersville
373 students15:1
Mitchell Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersville
380 students14:1
Mitchell High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersville
B+
482 students12:1
Mayland Early College
High · Grades 9–13 · Spruce Pine
A+
113 students23:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within North Carolina.