Avery County Schools

Public Regional · 8 towns Grades PK–12 BSchool Grade

Public schools for Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Newland, Elk Park, Sugar Mountain, Seven Devils, Crossnore and Grandfather Village.

At a glance

1,782Students enrolled

8Schools

8Towns served

$15,855Spent per student

14:1Student–teacher ratio

97%Free / reduced lunch

School path

Where would my kid go?

Banner ElkNewlandElk ParkSugar MountainCrossnoreGrandfather Village

Grades PK–5

Banner Elk Elementary159 students · Banner ElkThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

Newland Elementary214 students · NewlandThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

5 elementary schoolsDepends on your address · see the listThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

5 elementary schoolsDepends on your address · see the listThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

5 elementary schoolsDepends on your address · see the listThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

5 elementary schoolsDepends on your address · see the listThis district

Grades 6–8

Cranberry Middle or Avery MiddleDepends on your addressThis district

Based on district boundaries from the U.S. Department of Education. Where a town has more than one school at a grade, your street decides; check with the district before you enroll.

Academic performanceDistrict vs NC

Math proficiency47%

State average 41.9%

Reading / language arts52%

State average 47.2%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 87.7%

EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (tests 2020–21; graduation 2019–20). The tick marks the state average.

Where the money goes

$15,855

per student each year · 22% above the NC average

Spending

Classroom instruction57%

Support & administration37%

Other6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax)22%

State58%

Federal19%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (fiscal 2024).

Enrollment · last 5 years

1,880’20

1,870’21

1,904’22

1,856’23

1,782’24

Students

White · 80%1,425

Hispanic · 17%301

Two or more races · 2%34

Black · 1%9

Asian · 0%8

American Indian/Alaska Native · 0%4

Across the district's schools, as reported to NCES.

Towns served

📍

Banner Elk1,473 people

📍

Beech Mountain987 people

📍

Newland866 people

📍

Elk Park560 people

📍

Sugar Mountain539 people

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Seven Devils425 people

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Crossnore115 people

📍

Grandfather Village14 people

Schools8 in district

Newland ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 214 students · Newland

Freedom Trail ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 202 students · Elk Park

Crossnore ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 184 students · Crossnore

Banner Elk ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 159 students · Banner Elk

Riverside ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 98 students · Newland

Cranberry MiddleMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 202 students · Elk Park

Avery MiddleMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 181 students · Newland

Avery County HighHigh · Grades 9–12 · 542 students · Newland

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES). Ratings are from neighbors on TownTapestry.

District facts from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory and school district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau's school finance survey. Test scores and graduation rates from EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings reflect opinions, not an official measure of school quality.