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 3 public middle schools serving 407 students in Avery County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Avery County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
1,871 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
150 Teachers
31,644 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
0.71
# American Indian Students
4 Students
5,633 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
10 Students
19,933 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
272 Students
98,873 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
20%
# Black Students
7 Students
122,407 Students
% Black Students
n/a
25%
# White Students
1,528 Students
215,701 Students
% White Students
82%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
646 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
49 Students
30,848 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
87
1,882
# Students in K Grade:
136
16,660
# Students in 1st Grade:
133
16,806
# Students in 2nd Grade:
166
17,050
# Students in 3rd Grade:
95
16,530
# Students in 4th Grade:
124
16,849
# Students in 5th Grade:
129
19,618
# Students in 6th Grade:
140
111,560
# Students in 7th Grade:
125
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
127
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
135
12,380
# Students in 10th Grade:
165
10,877
# Students in 11th Grade:
146
9,420
# Students in 12th Grade:
163
8,569
# 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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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
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