Top Rankings
Avery County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 383 students in Avery County Schools. 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 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 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
8 Schools
875 Schools
# Students
1,782 Students
497,279 Students
# Teachers
127 Teachers
31,075 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Avery County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 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 87% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#123 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)55%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
69%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.33
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
17%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
80%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,790 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,455 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$37 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$37 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,790
$11,168
Spending / Student
$20,455
$11,592
Best Avery County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 6-8 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: 6-8 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
