Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Valdese’s public schools outscore 56% of North Carolina districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Valdese, 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.
Valdese’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 318 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Valdese’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 ↓
One elementary school, then one middle and one high school
From grade 6 the district’s path is Heritage Middle, then Draughn High School. 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 Valdese’s grade
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.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Valdese, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Valdese
Valdese Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 530 students · 18:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Valdese
Heritage Middle
Grades 6–8 · 475 students · 16:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Valdese
Heritage Middle
Grades 6–8 · 475 students · 16:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Valdese
Heritage Middle
Grades 6–8 · 475 students · 16:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Valdese
Draughn High School
Grades 9–12 · 661 students · 27:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Valdese
Draughn High School
Grades 9–12 · 661 students · 27:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Valdese
Draughn High School
Grades 9–12 · 661 students · 27:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Valdese
Draughn High School
Grades 9–12 · 661 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Valdese’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.
Close to the state in reading
Valdese vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Valdese’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Valdese | B | Burke County Schools |
| Rutherford College | B | Burke County Schools |
| Drexel | B | Burke County Schools |
All 2 neighbors share Burke County Schools with Valdese, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Valdese
3 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Burke Virtual Academy).
Questions about Valdese’s schools
Are Valdese’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Valdese 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 Valdese in?
Burke County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,667 students in 26 schools (2024–25).
Where do Valdese kids go to high school?
Draughn High School, with 661 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Valdese’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 Valdese spend per student?
$12,539 in Burke County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Valdese families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Valdese → 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.