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Downtown Spruce Pine NCPhoto: Kubigula · Public domain
B−
Schools in Spruce Pine · Mitchell County Schools

Spruce Pine’s public schools score below 54% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Spruce Pine, 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
50%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
51%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 2–6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.4K
▲ 18% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.5
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
1,738 students on the public path
In brief

Spruce Pine’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 219 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Spruce Pine’s, its schools beat 59%, higher than their 46% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 51% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,355 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one elementary, one middle and two high schools

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

Choice beyond the district

Spruce Pine Montessori School (private) and Tri-County Christian 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 Spruce Pine’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

B−: better than 46% of North Carolina school districts. Test scores are above the North Carolina average; graduation is below it.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 46%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (219)Better than 59%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 879 test results and a graduating class of 154 could put Spruce Pine anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Spruce Pine’s students in the tested grades sat them (841 in math, 917 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB
3–5Mitchell Elementary Schoolin BakersvilleNo scores
6–8Mitchell Middle Schoolin BakersvilleNo scores
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A+

Spruce Pine’s public schools are run by Mitchell County Schools, which also serves Bakersville. 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.

Mitchell County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,738 students · 13.5 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$15,355NC $13,045 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 49.9% · 917 students tested
Math51%
State average 50.8% · 841 students tested

Spruce Pine vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Spruce PineB−Mitchell County Schools

Every school in Spruce Pine

8 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).

Also serving Spruce Pinein other towns
Greenlee Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
246 students13:1Rate it →
Gouge Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Bakersville
B
144 students11:1Rate it →
Mitchell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Bakersville
373 students15:1Rate it →
Mitchell Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersville
380 students14:1Rate it →
Mitchell High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersville
B+
482 students12:1Rate it →
Mayland Early College
High · Grades 9–12
A+
113 students23:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Spruce Pine Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
55 students11:1Rate it →
Tri-County Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
35 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Spruce Pine’s schools

Are Spruce Pine’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Spruce Pine children attend score below 54% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 59%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Spruce Pine in?

Mitchell County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,738 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Spruce Pine kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Mitchell High and Mayland Early College.

What is Spruce Pine’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Mitchell County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Spruce Pine spend per student?

$15,355 in Mitchell County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Spruce Pine?

Yes: Spruce Pine Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 55 students) and Tri-County Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 35 students).

Parents talk

What Spruce Pine families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Spruce Pine → 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.