Is Mitchell High a good school?

Mitchell High ranks 455 th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Mitchell High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 508 students attended Mitchell High.

What is the racial makeup of Mitchell High?

Students at Mitchell High are 83% White, 13% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Mitchell High?

Mitchell High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Deyton Elementary Elementary : Gouge Elementary Elementary : Greenlee Primary Middle : Bowman Middle Middle : Harris Middle

Mitchell High

Summary:

Mitchell High is a public high school located in Bakersville, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 497. The school is part of the Mitchell County Schools district, which is ranked 108 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Mitchell High has a predominantly white student population, with 83.1% of students identifying as white, which is significantly higher than the state average and nearby schools like Mountain Heritage High and Mayland Early College. Academically, the school's performance, as measured by end-of-course (EOC) test scores, is generally below the state and district averages, with only 18.8% of students proficient or better in EOC Math I, compared to the state average of 36.9% and the district average of 29.9%. Additionally, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with special education students performing well but female and white students ranking much lower.

Over the years, Mitchell High's statewide ranking has declined, from a high of 130 out of 451 North Carolina high schools in 2013-2014 to a low of 455 out of 640 in 2023-2024, with a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. This decline in performance, coupled with the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggests that Mitchell High may be facing socioeconomic challenges that are impacting student outcomes. Compared to nearby schools, Mitchell High's academic performance and statewide rankings are significantly lower, indicating that the school may need targeted interventions and support to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps.

Detail:

Public 9-12

416 Ledger School Rd
Bakersville, NC 28705

(828) 766-3400

District: Mitchell County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
455^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,982

Feeder schools for Mitchell High:

Elementary:	Deyton Elementary
	Gouge Elementary
	Greenlee Primary
Middle:	Bowman Middle
	Harris Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 11.9

Number of students: 508

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.1%

Hispanic:

12.8%

Two or more races:

2.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 98%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Mitchell High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Mitchell High ranks worse than 71.1% of high schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.48. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (83.1%), Hispanic (12.8%), two or more races (2.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 98% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mitchell High is 11.9. (See more...)

Compare Mitchell High employs 42.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mitchell High is $11,982.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Mitchell High:

SchoolDigger ranks Mitchell High 455^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Mitchell High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Mitchell County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Mitchell County Schools 108^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Mitchell High

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Rank History for all students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	56.36	179^th	431	58.5%
2007	59.67	145^th	453	68.0%
2008	52.80	223^rd	477	53.2%
2009	46.97	279^th	490	43.1%
2010	60.10	192^nd	499	61.5%
2011	62.01	156^th	506	69.2%
2012	47.46	254^th	502	49.4%
2013	36.26	265^th	505	47.5%
2014	54.99	130^th	451	71.2%
2015	47.84	195^th	531	63.3%
2016	44.56	198^th	507	60.9%
2017	54.79	160^th	476	66.4%
2018	53.40	189^th	469	59.7%
2019	35.12	313^th	514	39.1%
2021	35.95	362^nd	594	39.1%
2022	32.48	416^th	621	33.0%
2023	36.52	384^th	626	38.7%
2024	29.48	455^th	640	28.9%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	62.06	82^nd	349	76.5%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	56.15	118^th	424	72.2%
2019	38.58	225^th	446	49.6%
2021	40.14	192^nd	432	55.6%
2022	27.02	408^th	544	25.0%
2023	39.19	323^rd	597	45.9%
2024	23.33	482^nd	613	21.4%

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

Rank History for Female students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	50.17	223^rd	449	50.3%
2019	33.10	322^nd	475	32.2%
2021	45.18	214^th	475	54.9%
2022	32.82	402^nd	594	32.3%
2023	29.75	415^th	588	29.4%
2024	24.57	463^rd	602	23.1%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	31.00	229^th	349	34.4%
2019	21.82	322^nd	364	11.5%

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

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	42.60	66^th	100	34.0%
2019	28.94	273^rd	325	16.0%
2021	46.89	216^th	337	35.9%
2022	63.18	168^th	398	57.8%
2023	49.28	255^th	403	36.7%
2024	50.67	270^th	403	33.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	54.59	177^th	463	61.8%
2019	35.41	291^st	488	40.4%
2021	28.18	314^th	481	34.7%
2022	31.52	395^th	585	32.5%
2023	41.81	329^th	602	45.3%
2024	32.60	410^th	607	32.5%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	15.20	329^th	354	7.1%
2021	42.53	159^th	370	57.0%
2022	34.72	275^th	436	36.9%
2023	30.86	312^th	449	30.5%
2024	37.14	264^th	454	41.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Mitchell High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	38.65	265^th	427	37.9%
2019	20.13	371^st	444	16.4%
2021	21.46	344^th	439	21.6%
2022	18.44	466^th	534	12.7%
2023	21.73	451^st	537	16.0%
2024	15.97	488^th	553	11.8%

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 Mitchell High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	724	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	3	729
1989	702	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	704
1990	593	1	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	10	608
1991	629	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	-10	620
1992	622	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	624
1993	655	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	657
1994	655	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	655
1995	644	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	647
1996	644	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	647
1997	619	0	0	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	625
1998	649	0	0	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	656
1999	670	1	2	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	678
2000	690	2	5	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	704
2001	688	5	3	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	703
2002	703	2	0	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	718
2003	703	2	0	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	718
2004	699	2	0	23	0	n/a	n/a	0	724
2005	700	2	0	17	0	n/a	n/a	0	719
2006	679	3	0	23	0	n/a	n/a	0	705
2007	650	1	1	20	0	n/a	n/a	3	675
2008	620	1	1	16	0	n/a	n/a	1	639
2009	634	3	1	22	1	n/a	n/a	0	661
2010	603	10	2	24	0	n/a	n/a	0	639
2011	564	4	2	26	2	0	2	0	600
2012	522	1	3	34	1	1	3	0	565
2013	516	1	4	32	1	0	2	0	556
2014	468	2	3	32	0	0	8	0	513
2015	508	2	4	34	0	0	3	0	551
2016	494	1	3	34	1	0	3	0	536
2017	476	1	3	39	2	0	5	0	526
2018	463	1	4	37	1	0	5	0	511
2019	451	1	5	38	1	1	5	0	502
2020	455	2	5	46	1	0	7	0	516
2021	426	1	6	50	0	0	4	0	487
2022	403	1	5	59	1	0	7	0	476
2023	413	2	3	71	0	0	8	0	497
2024	422	5	3	65	0	0	13	0	508

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 Mitchell High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	729	52.0	14.0	17.6
1989	704	52.0	13.5	22.7
1990	608	52.0	11.6	43.6
1991	620	52.0	11.9	42.7
1992	624	52.0	12.0	14.7
1993	657	42.0	15.6	19
1994	655	43.0	15.2	20.5
1995	647	43.0	15.0	21.8
1996	647	43.0	15.0	21.8
1997	625	42.0	14.9	26.2
1998	656	46.0	14.3	27.1
1999	678	46.0	14.7	31.9
2000	704	46.0	15.3	33.8
2001	703	46.0	15.3	36
2002	718	42.0	17.1	38.3
2003	718	42.0	17.1	38.3
2004	724	42.0	17.2	41.3
2005	719	42.0	17.1	40.6
2006	705	42.0	16.8	41.7
2007	675	48.2	14.0	42.4
2008	639	48.0	13.3	39.2
2009	661	50.0	13.2	43.6
2010	639	50.0	12.7	46.6
2011	600	48.2	12.4	44.7
2012	565	45.0	12.5	44.8
2013	556	42.5	13.0	48.6
2014	513	44.2	11.5	47.4
2015	551	42.0	13.1	46.3
2016	536	40.0	13.4	48.7
2017	526	40.4	13.0	44.9
2018	511	39.4	12.9	43.8
2019	502	39.8	12.6	41.2
2020	516	39.2	13.1	43.2
2021	487	37.4	13.0	99.4
2022	476	39.3	12.1	28.6
2023	497	36.8	13.4	50.1
2024	508	42.4	11.9	98

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 Mitchell High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	729	52.0	14.0	17.6
1989	704	52.0	13.5	22.7
1990	608	52.0	11.6	43.6
1991	620	52.0	11.9	42.7
1992	624	52.0	12.0	14.7
1993	657	42.0	15.6	19
1994	655	43.0	15.2	20.5
1995	647	43.0	15.0	21.8
1996	647	43.0	15.0	21.8
1997	625	42.0	14.9	26.2
1998	656	46.0	14.3	27.1
1999	678	46.0	14.7	31.9
2000	704	46.0	15.3	33.8
2001	703	46.0	15.3	36
2002	718	42.0	17.1	38.3
2003	718	42.0	17.1	38.3
2004	724	42.0	17.2	41.3
2005	719	42.0	17.1	40.6
2006	705	42.0	16.8	41.7
2007	675	48.2	14.0	42.4
2008	639	48.0	13.3	39.2
2009	661	50.0	13.2	43.6
2010	639	50.0	12.7	46.6
2011	600	48.2	12.4	44.7
2012	565	45.0	12.5	44.8
2013	556	42.5	13.0	48.6
2014	513	44.2	11.5	47.4
2015	551	42.0	13.1	46.3
2016	536	40.0	13.4	48.7
2017	526	40.4	13.0	44.9
2018	511	39.4	12.9	43.8
2019	502	39.8	12.6	41.2
2020	516	39.2	13.1	43.2
2021	487	37.4	13.0	99.4
2022	476	39.3	12.1	28.6
2023	497	36.8	13.4	50.1
2024	508	42.4	11.9	98

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 Mitchell High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$572 (4.8%)	$11,410 (95.2%)	$11,982

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mitchell High

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 313^th of 514 High schools	Ranks 384^th of 626 High schools	0.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Mitchell High)	54.4	58.1	3.7%
End of Course Biology (Mitchell County Schools)	63.9	62.4	1.5%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	54.1	5.5%
End of Course English II (Mitchell High)	62.7	49.6	13.1%
End of Course English II (Mitchell County Schools)	69.5	60.9	8.6%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Mitchell High)	30.3	36.2	5.9%
End of Course Math I (Mitchell County Schools)	41.2	45.9	4.7%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Mitchell High)	25	37.1	12.1%
End of Course Math III (Mitchell County Schools)	38.4	51.8	13.4%
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	502	497	1%
African American	1	2	100%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	5	3	40%
Hispanic	38	71	86.8%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	451	413	8.4%
Two or More Races	5	8	60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	41.2%	50.1%	8.9%

Schools Near Mitchell High

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)	EOG Mathematics (2024)		EOG Reading (2024)		EOG Science (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	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mitchell High	Public	9-12	416 Ledger School Rd	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-3400	508	42	11.9	98.0%	422 (83.1%)	5 (1.0%)	65 (12.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.6%)	29.5	455^th of 640 public high schools	28.9%		36.5	384^th of 626 public high schools	38.7%	71	55.6	47.7	18.8	41.5						$11,982	$572	$11,410
Mayland Early College	Public	9-12	264 Mayland Dr	Spruce Pine	28777	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-2590	115	5	23.0	97.4%	91 (79.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (12.2%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.0%)	84.6	113^th of 640 public high schools	82.3%		94.4	34^th of 626 public high schools	94.6%	79	82.9	81.8	95.0	71.4						$7,370	$209	$7,160
Mountain Heritage High	Public	9-12	333 Mtn Heritage HS Road	Burnsville	28714	Yancey County	Yancey County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 682-6103	633	47	13.6	50.6%	511 (80.7%)	2 (0.3%)	110 (17.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	62.9	217^th of 640 public high schools	66.1%		72.8	161^st of 626 public high schools	74.3%	56	78.4	66.0	41.2	64.7						$11,483	$884	$10,599
Avery County High	Public	9-12	401 Avery County High School R	Newland	28657	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 733-0151	594	38	15.6	99.5%	469 (79.0%)	4 (0.7%)	90 (15.2%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.7%)	31.1	441^st of 640 public high schools	31.1%		40.2	351^st of 626 public high schools	43.9%	90	41.1	48.1	26.2	54.8						$10,821	$537	$10,285
McDowell Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	346 West McDowell Junior High	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(828) 652-3390	99	2	49.5	63.6%	89 (89.9%)	4 (4.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	12.5	573^rd of 640 public high schools	10.5%		10.4	578^th of 626 public high schools	7.7%	5	9.1	44.4	7.7		16.7	16.7	18.2	47.1	58.8
McDowell High School	Public	9-12	600 McDowell High School Dr	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 652-7920	1,384	91	15.2	99.5%	1,021 (73.8%)	50 (3.6%)	218 (15.8%)	12 (0.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (5.8%)	32.1	429^th of 640 public high schools	33.0%		31.5	423^rd of 626 public high schools	32.4%	6	38.0	51.6	33.7	50.9						$9,698	$1,036	$8,662

Mitchell High

Mitchell High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Mitchell County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Mitchell High

Rank History for all students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Special Education students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Female students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Disabled students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Male students at Mitchell High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mitchell High

Rank History for White students at Mitchell High

Enrollment information for Mitchell High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Mitchell High

Student/Teacher Ratio Mitchell High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Mitchell High

Impact of COVID-19 on Mitchell High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Mitchell High

Mitchell High

Mayland Early College

Mountain Heritage High

Avery County High

McDowell Virtual Academy

McDowell High School

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