Wilkes Early College High School

Q: Is Wilkes Early College High School a good school?

Wilkes Early College High School ranks 72 nd of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Wilkes Early College High School is a public high school in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 257. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and significantly outperforming the Wilkes County Schools and North Carolina state averages in academic assessments.

Wilkes Early College High School's academic excellence is particularly noteworthy given its relatively low spending per student of $6,729, compared to the nearby high schools, which range from $9,054 to $12,105 per student. The school's diverse student population, with a lower percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients than the surrounding high schools, such as Elkin High, Alexander Early College, and East Wilkes High School, suggests that the school is able to attract and serve a more socioeconomically diverse student population, which may contribute to its strong academic performance.

The consistent academic excellence and efficient use of resources at Wilkes Early College High School make it a model for other schools in the Wilkes County Schools district and the state of North Carolina. The school's success in serving a diverse student population and achieving high academic results with relatively low spending per student could provide valuable insights and strategies for other schools in the region to emulate and learn from.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1328 S Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC 28697

(336) 838-6247

District: Wilkes County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
72^nd of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,729

Student/teacher ratio: 28.5

Number of students: 257

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.8%

Hispanic:

12.5%

Two or more races:

2.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 31.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Wilkes Early College High School ranks better than 88.8% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 5 ranked high schools in the Wilkes County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.22. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Wilkes Early College High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Wilkes County Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (79.8%), Hispanic (12.5%), two or more races (2.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 31.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Wilkes County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wilkes Early College High School is 28.5, which is the highest among 5 high schools in the Wilkes County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Wilkes Early College High School employs 9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wilkes Early College High School is $6,729, which is the lowest among 5 high schools in the Wilkes County Schools District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wilkes Early College High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilkes Early College High School 72^nd of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Wilkes Early College High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

White students:

Wilkes County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilkes County Schools 81^st of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Wilkes Early College High School

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Rank History for all students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	96.54	17^th	594	97.1%
2022	95.95	17^th	621	97.3%
2023	91.78	53^rd	626	91.5%
2024	90.22	72^nd	640	88.8%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	97.24	31^st	544	94.3%
2023	95.32	44^th	597	92.6%
2024	94.59	59^th	613	90.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	95.21	16^th	594	97.3%
2023	91.05	54^th	588	90.8%
2024	87.49	86^th	602	85.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	82.48	27^th	398	93.2%
2023	81.92	1^st	403	99.8%
2024	70.12	108^th	403	73.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	96.77	16^th	585	97.3%
2023	95.78	32^nd	602	94.7%
2024	92.31	66^th	607	89.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	94.74	16^th	534	97.0%
2023	87.96	66^th	537	87.7%
2024	88.20	77^th	553	86.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High 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.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Wilkes Early College High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	45	3	0	13	0	n/a	n/a	61
2011	87	3	0	24	0	0	3	117
2012	126	3	0	34	0	0	7	170
2013	161	3	0	49	0	0	5	218
2014	163	3	1	50	0	0	5	222
2015	174	2	1	61	0	0	5	243
2016	152	2	0	58	0	0	6	218
2017	163	3	1	64	0	0	6	237
2018	153	7	1	63	0	0	8	232
2019	162	6	3	56	0	0	7	234
2020	182	6	3	48	1	0	4	244
2021	194	6	3	44	1	0	7	255
2022	197	5	6	38	1	0	6	253
2023	205	6	6	32	1	0	7	257

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 Wilkes Early College High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	61	3.0	20.3	n/a
2011	117	5.5	21.2	61.5
2012	170	7.0	24.2	63.5
2013	218	8.9	24.2	59.2
2014	222	9.0	24.6	67.1
2015	243	9.0	27.0	98.8
2016	218	9.0	24.2	98.6
2017	237	8.0	29.5	98.3
2018	232	8.0	29.0	37.1
2019	234	9.0	26.0	27.4
2020	244	8.9	27.1	24.6
2021	255	9.7	26.1	16.1
2022	253	9.0	28.1	13.8
2023	257	9.0	28.5	31.9

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 Wilkes Early College High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	61	3.0	20.3	n/a
2011	117	5.5	21.2	61.5
2012	170	7.0	24.2	63.5
2013	218	8.9	24.2	59.2
2014	222	9.0	24.6	67.1
2015	243	9.0	27.0	98.8
2016	218	9.0	24.2	98.6
2017	237	8.0	29.5	98.3
2018	232	8.0	29.0	37.1
2019	234	9.0	26.0	27.4
2020	244	8.9	27.1	24.6
2021	255	9.7	26.1	16.1
2022	253	9.0	28.1	13.8
2023	257	9.0	28.5	31.9

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 Wilkes Early College High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$458 (6.8%)	$6,271 (93.2%)	$6,729

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wilkes Early College High School

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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Wilkes Early College High School)	94.3	94.8	0.5%
End of Course Biology (Wilkes County Schools)	63.1	56.4	6.7%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	52	7.6%
End of Course English II (Wilkes Early College High School)	98.3	94.9	3.4%
End of Course English II (Wilkes County Schools)	55.5	59.4	3.9%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Wilkes Early College High School)	94.7	89.2	5.5%
End of Course Math I (Wilkes County Schools)	54.6	54.1	0.5%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Wilkes Early College High School)	85	85.9	0.9%
End of Course Math III (Wilkes County Schools)	43.3	63	19.7%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	234	257	9.8%
African American	6	6
American Indian	0	1
Asian	3	6	100%
Hispanic	56	32	42.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	162	205	26.5%
Two or More Races	7	7
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27.4%	31.9%	4.6%

Schools Near Wilkes Early College High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wilkes Early College High School	Public	9-12	1328 S Collegiate Dr	Wilkesboro	28697	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 838-6247	257	9	28.5	31.9%	205 (79.8%)	6 (2.3%)	32 (12.5%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.7%)	90.2	72^nd of 640 public high schools	88.8%		91.8	53^rd of 626 public high schools	91.5%	19	77.6	98.3	70.7	94.7	$6,729	$458	$6,271
Wilkes Central High School	Public	9-12	1179 Moravian Falls Rd	Wilkesboro	28697	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 667-5277	752	50	15.0	53.7%	414 (55.1%)	80 (10.6%)	195 (25.9%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (7.6%)	30.9	442^nd of 640 public high schools	30.9%		38	371^st of 626 public high schools	40.7%	71	35.6	50.2	43.1	44.9	$9,054	$938	$8,116
West Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	6598 Boone Trail	Millers Creek	28651	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 903-6710	628	39	15.9	46.8%	500 (79.6%)	6 (1.0%)	101 (16.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.7%)	51.4	290^th of 640 public high schools	54.7%		45.8	318^th of 626 public high schools	49.2%	28	54.5	59.9	54.0	56.1	$9,570	$787	$8,783
North Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	2986 Traphill Rd	Hays	28635	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 903-4040	625	39	15.8	55.8%	501 (80.2%)	13 (2.1%)	93 (14.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.9%)	71.1	174^th of 640 public high schools	72.8%		68.4	182^nd of 626 public high schools	70.9%	8	63.8	68.4	70.6	74.7	$9,880	$1,015	$8,865
Alexander Central High	Public	9-12	223 School Drive	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 632-7063	1,312	87	15.0	46.9%	1,034 (78.8%)	72 (5.5%)	130 (9.9%)	9 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	66 (5.0%)	54.2	269^th of 640 public high schools	58.0%		56.9	248^th of 626 public high schools	60.4%	21	65.5	58.8	41.1	62.9	$10,255	$776	$9,479
Alexander Early College	Public	9-12	345 Industrial Blvd	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 632-8221	165	7	23.5	37.0%	121 (73.3%)	2 (1.2%)	30 (18.2%)	10 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	86.3	106^th of 640 public high schools	83.4%		95.8	15^th of 626 public high schools	97.6%	91	75.7	84.2	83.8	81.1	$6,455	$116	$6,339
East Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	13315 Elkin Hwy 268	Ronda	28670	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 651-7200	495	30	16.3	47.5%	433 (87.5%)	11 (2.2%)	39 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	69.4	182^nd of 640 public high schools	71.6%		62.3	214^th of 626 public high schools	65.8%	32	74.2	64.4	56.8	75.9	$10,562	$769	$9,794
Elkin High	Public	9-12	334 Elk Spur St	Elkin	28621	Surry County	Elkin City Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 835-3858	399	31	12.9	41.1%	274 (68.7%)	10 (2.5%)	95 (23.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	72.7	167^th of 640 public high schools	73.9%		66.7	186^th of 626 public high schools	70.3%	19	71.1	74.4	57.4	72.1	$12,105	$1,046	$11,058

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilkes Early College High School

What is the racial makeup of Wilkes Early College High School?

Students at Wilkes Early College High School are 80% White, 12% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

Is Wilkes Early College High School a good school?

Wilkes Early College High School ranks 72^nd of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Wilkes Early College High School in?

Wilkes County Schools

How many students attend Wilkes Early College High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 257 students attended Wilkes Early College High School.

Rate Wilkes Early College High School!

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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.