Top Rankings
Wilkes County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 2,668 students in Wilkes County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Wilkes County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 84% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Wilkes County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Wilkes Early College High School, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
22 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
8,599 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
555 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Wilkes 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 88% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#108 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
63%
Graduation Rate
88%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.45
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
17%
20%
% Black
3%
24%
% White
72%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,514 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 $11,274 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$99 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$97 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,514
$11,187
Spending / Student
$11,274
$11,612
Best Wilkes County Schools School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Wilkes Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1328 S Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6247
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6247
Grades: 9-13
| 228 students
Rank: #22.
Wilkes Central High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1179 Moravian Falls Rd
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 667-5277
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 667-5277
Grades: 9-12
| 737 students
Rank: #33.
West Wilkes High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6598 Boone Trail
Millers Creek, NC 28651
(336) 903-6710
Millers Creek, NC 28651
(336) 903-6710
Grades: 9-12
| 614 students
Rank: #44.
East Wilkes High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
13315 Elkin Hwy 268
Ronda, NC 28670
(336) 651-7200
Ronda, NC 28670
(336) 651-7200
Grades: 9-12
| 489 students
Rank: #55.
North Wilkes High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2986 Traphill Rd
Hays, NC 28635
(336) 903-4040
Hays, NC 28635
(336) 903-4040
Grades: 9-12
| 600 students
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