Public schools in Burlington, NC
15 open public schools with an address in Burlington, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,730
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.3:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Burlington public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Burlington, NC: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,730 students, an average of 582 per school. The largest campus is Walter M Williams High (1,206 students), and the largest elementary school is Highland Elementary (661).
Alamance-Burlington Schools operates the most schools here (14), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 92% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Burlington
Elementary schools in Burlington
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastlawn Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 528 | 15.2:1 | |
| Edwin M Holt Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | KG–05 | 505 | 15.4:1 | |
| Grove Park Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 437 | 14.7:1 | |
| Harvey R Newlin Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 491 | 15.2:1 | |
| Highland Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | KG–05 | 661 | 16.3:1 | |
| Hillcrest Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 556 | 15.1:1 | |
| Marvin B Smith Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 556 | 15.3:1 | |
| Pleasant Grove Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | KG–05 | 271 | 13.4:1 | |
| R Homer Andrews Elementary Alamance-Burlington Schools | PK–05 | 498 | 12.3:1 |
Middle schools in Burlington
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadview Middle Alamance-Burlington Schools | 06–08 | 512 | 18:1 | |
| Turrentine Middle Alamance-Burlington Schools | 06–08 | 739 | 18.2:1 |
High schools in Burlington
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technical Education Center Alamance-Burlington Schools · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Hugh M Cummings High Alamance-Burlington Schools | 09–12 | 807 | 20.4:1 | |
| Walter M Williams High Alamance-Burlington Schools | 09–12 | 1,206 | 20.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Burlington
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Garden Clover Garden · Charter | KG–12 | 963 | 20.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White27.7%
- Hispanic36.4%
- Black26.6%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 Burlington schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,730 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Burlington
How many public schools are in Burlington, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Burlington: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 8,730 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Burlington?
Schools with an address in Burlington belong to 2 education agencies, led by Alamance-Burlington Schools (14 schools), Clover Garden (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Burlington?
Walter M Williams High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Burlington, with 1,206 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Burlington?
Yes. 1 of the 15 public schools in Burlington are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Clover Garden. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Burlington schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Burlington public schools is 15.3:1, similar to the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Burlington guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities