Top Rankings
Avery County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 1,277 students in Avery County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Avery County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
1,871 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
150 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Avery County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85-89% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#123 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
69%
63%
Graduation Rate
85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.31
0.72
# American Indian Students
4 Students
12,383 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
10 Students
47,310 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
272 Students
227,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
21%
# Black Students
7 Students
268,051 Students
% Black Students
n/a
25%
# White Students
1,528 Students
465,086 Students
% White Students
82%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
1,488 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
49 Students
69,126 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
87
23,192
# Students in K Grade:
136
109,971
# Students in 1st Grade:
133
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
166
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
95
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
124
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
129
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
140
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
125
113,393
# Students in 8th Grade:
127
115,504
# Students in 9th Grade:
135
11,612
# Students in 10th Grade:
165
10,182
# Students in 11th Grade:
146
8,704
# Students in 12th Grade:
163
7,975
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,801 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,482 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$37 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$37 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,801
$11,187
Spending / Student
$19,482
$11,612
Best Avery County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Banner Elk Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
155 Orchard Lane
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Grades: PK-5
| 168 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Crossnore Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Walt Clark Road
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 737-7204
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 737-7204
Grades: PK-5
| 180 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Freedom Trail Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6110 North Us Hwy 19e
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Grades: PK-5
| 212 students
Rank: #44.
Cranberry Middle School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6230 North Us Highway 19e
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Elk Park, NC 28622
(828) 733-2932
Grades: 6-8
| 184 students
Rank: #55.
Blue Ridge High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
76 Old Montezuma Rd
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5800
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5800
Grades: 6-12
| 15 students
Rank: #66.
Newland Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
750 Linville Street
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-4911
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-4911
Grades: PK-5
| 202 students
Rank: #77.
Avery Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
102 Old Montezuma Road
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-0145
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-0145
Grades: 6-8
| 208 students
Rank: #88.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8020 Us 19e Hwy South
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5600
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 737-5600
Grades: PK-5
| 108 students
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