Liberty Middle

Summary:

Liberty Middle is a public middle school located in Morganton, North Carolina, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 457. The school is part of the Burke County Schools district, which is ranked 110 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Liberty Middle consistently outperforms the Burke County Schools district and the state of North Carolina in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. The school's Hispanic and English Language Learner (ELL) students consistently outperform their peers at the district and state levels, with the school ranking in the top 100 schools in North Carolina for these subgroups. Despite having a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Liberty Middle's low-income students perform exceptionally well, ranking in the top 45 schools in North Carolina for this subgroup.

When compared to nearby schools in the Caldwell County, Catawba County, and McDowell County school districts, Liberty Middle consistently outperforms the other Burke County middle schools, as well as most of the nearby schools in these neighboring districts. The school's ability to support the success of its diverse student population, including a significant percentage of low-income students, is a notable achievement and could serve as a model for other schools in the region and state.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 529 Enola Road
       Morganton, NC  28655


(828) 437-1330

District: Burke County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
220th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,674 Help


Students who attend Liberty Middle usually attend:

High:    Robert L. Patton High School

Feeder schools for Liberty Middle:

Elementary:    Forest Hill Elementary
    Mull Elementary
    Salem Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  16.2 Help
Number of students:  457

Racial breakdown:

White:
70.9%
Hispanic:
16.6%
Two or more races:
5.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  58.4% Help


 See top rated North Carolina middle schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Liberty Middle ranks better than 72.3% of middle schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2nd among 5 ranked middle schools in the Burke County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.18. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (70.9%), Hispanic (16.6%), two or more races (5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 58.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Burke County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Liberty Middle is 16.2. 2 middle schools in the Burke County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Liberty Middle employs 28.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Liberty Middle is $8,674. 2 middle schools in the Burke County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Liberty Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Liberty Middle 220th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Liberty Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Burke County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Burke County Schools 110th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Liberty Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 75.32 108th 598 81.9%
2007 80.18 68th 606 88.8%
2008 76.74 121st 620 80.5%
2009 80.91 89th 630 85.9%
2010 79.48 98th 640 84.7%
2011 76.51 123rd 648 81.0%
2012 75.55 140th 662 78.9%
2013 59.34 240th 673 64.3%
2014 69.60 162nd 627 74.2%
2015 75.04 154th 705 78.2%
2016 72.96 161st 692 76.7%
2017 72.81 168th 694 75.8%
2018 67.66 219th 691 68.3%
2019 67.04 231st 737 68.7%
2021 58.93 273rd 741 63.2%
2022 68.58 215th 786 72.6%
2023 80.41 138th 784 82.4%
2024 68.18 220th 793 72.3%
See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.08 84th 221 62.0%
2019 48.87 112th 237 52.7%
2022 53.02 115th 283 59.4%
2024 70.89 75th 306 75.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 82.96 20th 318 93.7%
2024 58.30 90th 356 74.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 52.66 149th 473 68.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.64 239th 604 60.4%
2019 64.66 177th 639 72.3%
2021 62.17 179th 633 71.7%
2022 77.68 89th 689 87.1%
2023 86.97 45th 735 93.9%
2024 71.78 133rd 743 82.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.93 197th 656 70.0%
2019 63.62 243rd 684 64.5%
2021 52.23 320th 706 54.7%
2022 63.98 236th 733 67.8%
2023 80.70 121st 731 83.4%
2024 69.51 193rd 738 73.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.20 423rd 475 10.9%
2019 53.68 176th 504 65.1%
2021 40.37 273rd 478 42.9%
2022 61.72 88th 449 80.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.28 18th 127 85.8%
2019 49.54 284th 416 31.7%
2021 34.85 365th 448 18.5%
2022 64.72 148th 450 67.1%
2023 63.80 171st 452 62.2%
2024 56.78 238th 461 48.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.63 235th 665 64.7%
2019 67.22 208th 697 70.2%
2021 63.28 227th 711 68.1%
2022 69.74 192nd 748 74.3%
2023 78.76 140th 747 81.3%
2024 64.75 232nd 751 69.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.27 54th 95 43.2%
2019 41.56 72nd 102 29.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.07 225th 472 52.3%
2019 48.95 243rd 493 50.7%
2021 57.24 179th 522 65.7%
2022 76.82 69th 541 87.2%
2023 70.84 112th 553 79.7%
2024 73.39 92nd 564 83.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Liberty Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.98 300th 596 49.7%
2019 50.22 312th 624 50.0%
2021 40.57 376th 632 40.5%
2022 51.69 304th 658 53.8%
2023 67.65 194th 656 70.4%
2024 46.29 348th 652 46.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Liberty Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Open Quote Liberty Middle went above and beyond any other public school in Burke County to educate my gifted child. Mr. Johnston is an amazing math teacher and was able to take my son to a whole new level in math during the 8th grade. Mr. Holden is a very attentive principal. He was always available and went out of his way to make my children and my family feel welcomed at the school. My other son has an IEP and the school was very accommodating with all of his needs. The communication from all of the teachers was amazing. Mr. Parker (8th grade English) really made his class fun and he teaches his students to love learning. Mrs. McDonald (7th grade) takes children to the next level. She really makes students "step up" with her high expectations and her students rise to the occasion. This academic year has been the best for my children and it is because of the caring teachers and staff at Liberty Middle School. Liberty Middle School is THE best thing Burke County has to offer. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Liberty Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 764 101 21 3 2 n/a n/a -4 887
1991 723 80 18 0 0 n/a n/a -15 806
1992 682 59 14 2 0 n/a n/a 1 758
1993 758 69 21 4 1 n/a n/a 0 853
1994 749 68 33 13 3 n/a n/a 0 866
1995 660 60 40 22 3 n/a n/a 0 785
1996 660 60 40 22 3 n/a n/a 0 785
1997 712 59 59 11 5 n/a n/a 0 846
1998 682 64 54 18 4 n/a n/a 0 822
1999 693 73 50 24 1 n/a n/a 0 841
2000 703 95 44 35 0 n/a n/a 0 877
2001 736 84 39 36 0 n/a n/a 0 895
2002 715 108 47 48 0 n/a n/a 0 918
2003 715 108 47 48 0 n/a n/a 0 918
2004 578 28 39 18 0 n/a n/a 0 663
2005 523 30 42 27 1 n/a n/a 0 623
2006 498 22 41 32 3 n/a n/a 0 596
2007 494 7 34 29 1 n/a n/a 18 583
2008 517 13 32 29 1 n/a n/a 23 615
2009 569 33 30 37 2 n/a n/a 0 671
2010 588 32 27 33 0 n/a n/a 0 680
2011 547 13 23 45 2 0 23 0 653
2012 530 11 19 46 3 0 25 0 634
2013 516 11 20 51 4 0 19 0 621
2014 510 15 19 42 3 0 22 0 611
2015 460 17 24 38 3 0 20 0 562
2016 423 11 30 46 2 3 23 0 538
2017 418 12 37 55 3 2 26 0 553
2018 420 14 34 75 1 0 26 0 570
2019 384 15 23 72 1 0 24 0 519
2020 397 13 16 74 0 0 26 0 526
2021 369 11 15 79 0 0 32 0 506
2022 358 12 16 69 0 0 28 0 483
2023 324 11 21 76 2 0 23 0 457

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Liberty Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 887 55.0 16.1 n/a
1991 806 55.0 14.6 0
1992 758 55.0 13.7 12.5
1993 853 59.0 14.5 14.4
1994 866 61.0 14.2 24.6
1995 785 55.0 14.3 21.9
1996 785 55.0 14.3 21.9
1997 846 54.0 15.7 21.7
1998 822 59.0 13.9 22.3
1999 841 57.0 14.8 32.5
2000 877 61.0 14.4 32.6
2001 895 61.0 14.7 32.6
2002 918 58.0 15.8 34.9
2003 918 58.0 15.8 34.9
2004 663 50.0 13.3 41.2
2005 623 53.0 11.8 46.9
2006 596 44.0 13.5 45.5
2007 583 39.4 14.8 48.5
2008 615 39.9 15.4 50.3
2009 671 41.0 16.4 43.4
2010 680 40.0 16.9 47.8
2011 653 39.0 16.7 47.5
2012 634 32.0 19.7 51.1
2013 621 37.4 16.5 55.2
2014 611 38.5 15.8 49.1
2015 562 33.0 17.0 44.7
2016 538 30.0 17.9 45.9
2017 553 31.2 17.6 46.1
2018 570 32.4 17.5 47
2019 519 30.1 17.2 47.4
2020 526 30.6 17.1 48.5
2021 506 30.6 16.5 45.1
2022 483 30.7 15.6 37.9
2023 457 28.2 16.2 58.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Liberty Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 887 55.0 16.1 n/a
1991 806 55.0 14.6 0
1992 758 55.0 13.7 12.5
1993 853 59.0 14.5 14.4
1994 866 61.0 14.2 24.6
1995 785 55.0 14.3 21.9
1996 785 55.0 14.3 21.9
1997 846 54.0 15.7 21.7
1998 822 59.0 13.9 22.3
1999 841 57.0 14.8 32.5
2000 877 61.0 14.4 32.6
2001 895 61.0 14.7 32.6
2002 918 58.0 15.8 34.9
2003 918 58.0 15.8 34.9
2004 663 50.0 13.3 41.2
2005 623 53.0 11.8 46.9
2006 596 44.0 13.5 45.5
2007 583 39.4 14.8 48.5
2008 615 39.9 15.4 50.3
2009 671 41.0 16.4 43.4
2010 680 40.0 16.9 47.8
2011 653 39.0 16.7 47.5
2012 634 32.0 19.7 51.1
2013 621 37.4 16.5 55.2
2014 611 38.5 15.8 49.1
2015 562 33.0 17.0 44.7
2016 538 30.0 17.9 45.9
2017 553 31.2 17.6 46.1
2018 570 32.4 17.5 47
2019 519 30.1 17.2 47.4
2020 526 30.6 17.1 48.5
2021 506 30.6 16.5 45.1
2022 483 30.7 15.6 37.9
2023 457 28.2 16.2 58.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Liberty Middle

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $830 (9.6%) $7,844 (90.4%) $8,674

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Liberty Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 231st of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 138th of 784 Middle schools
 13.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Middle)61.576.8
 15.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Burke County Schools)60.257.1
 3.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Liberty Middle)6858.5
 9.5%
   6th Grade Reading (Burke County Schools)6346.3
 16.7%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Middle)68.668.2
 0.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Burke County Schools)65.551.4
 14.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Liberty Middle)66.561.7
 4.8%
   7th Grade Reading (Burke County Schools)59.647
 12.6%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Middle)46.556.9
 10.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Burke County Schools)5651.6
 4.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.644.8
 7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Liberty Middle)67.965
 2.9%
   8th Grade Reading (Burke County Schools)57.553.2
 4.3%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.651
 4.6%
8th Grade Science (Liberty Middle)85.685.6
   8th Grade Science (Burke County Schools)83.276.1
 7.1%
   8th Grade Science (North Carolina)78.670.3
 8.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students519457
 11.9%
African American1511
 26.7%
American Indian12
 100%
Asian2321
 8.7%
Hispanic7276
 5.6%
Pacific Islander00
White384324
 15.6%
Two or More Races2423
 4.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients47.4%58.4%
 11%


Schools Near Liberty Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Liberty Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 457 students attended Liberty Middle.

Students at Liberty Middle are 71% White, 17% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 2% African American.

Students who attend Liberty Middle usually go on to attend Robert L. Patton High School

Liberty Middle ranks 220th of 793 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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