Top Rankings
Caldwell County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 25 public schools serving 10,596 students in Caldwell County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Caldwell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
25 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
10,596 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
740 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Caldwell County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#175 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.44
0.71
# American Indian Students
13 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
96 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
1,518 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
21%
# Black Students
554 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
5%
25%
# White Students
7,783 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
73%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
6 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
695 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
281
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
654
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
756
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
776
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
723
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
791
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
778
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
783
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
772
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
820
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
893
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
899
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
867
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
803
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,165 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,023 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$129 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$127 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,165
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,023
$11,612
Best Caldwell County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Caldwell Early College
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2859 Hickory Blvd Sw
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Grades: 9-13
| 329 students
Rank: #22.
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2857 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4640
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4640
Grades: 9-12
| 215 students
Rank: #33.
Granite Falls Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
60 N Highland Avenue
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2222
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2222
Grades: PK-5
| 593 students
Rank: #44.
Hibriten High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1350 Panther Trail Se
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-7376
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-7376
Grades: 9-12
| 811 students
Rank: #55.
South Caldwell High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
7035 Spartan Drive
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 396-2188
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 396-2188
Grades: 9-12
| 1,299 students
Rank: #66.
West Caldwell High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 W Caldwell Drive
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-5583
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-5583
Grades: 9-12
| 687 students
Rank: #77.
Lower Creek Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
630 Lower Creek Drive Ne
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-4022
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-4022
Grades: PK-5
| 383 students
Rank: #88.
Collettsville School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4690 Collettsville School Rd
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Grades: PK-8
| 339 students
Rank: #99.
Granite Falls Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4 West Highland Ave
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2341
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2341
Grades: 6-8
| 525 students
Rank: #1010.
Hudson Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
291 Pine Mountain Road
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-4281
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-4281
Grades: 6-8
| 547 students
Rank: #1111.
Baton Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1400 Baton School Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 728-9531
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 728-9531
Grades: PK-5
| 347 students
Rank: #1212.
Valmead Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
111 Elizabeth Drive Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-9612
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-9612
Grades: PK-5
| 275 students
Rank: #1313.
Hudson Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
200 Roy Coffey Drive
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-3712
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-3712
Grades: PK-5
| 633 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Happy Valley Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1350 Yadkin River Road
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-3496
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-3496
Grades: PK-8
| 223 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Kings Creek Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3680 Wilkesboro Boulevard
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6039
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6039
Grades: PK-8
| 148 students
Rank: #1616.
William Lenoir Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1366 Wildcat Trail
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3910
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3910
Grades: 6-8
| 514 students
Rank: #1717.
Gamewell Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3210 Gamewell School Road
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6204
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6204
Grades: 6-8
| 486 students
Rank: #1818.
Sawmills Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4436 Sawmills School Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2610
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2610
Grades: PK-5
| 336 students
Rank: #1919.
Dudley Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-3457
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-3457
Grades: PK-5
| 432 students
Rank: #2020.
Davenport A+ School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
901 College Avenue Sw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6941
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6941
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students
Rank: #2121.
Gamewell Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2904 Morganton Boulevard
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-1193
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-1193
Grades: PK-5
| 519 students
Rank: #2222.
Whitnel Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Berkley Street Sw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 728-6423
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 728-6423
Grades: PK-5
| 267 students
Rank: #2323.
Horizons Elementary School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
332 Greenhaven Dr. Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Grades: K-5
| 29 students
Rank: #2424.
Gateway School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1889 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Grades: 6-12
| 62 students
Rank: n/an/a
332 Greenhaven Dr Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Grades: 4-12
| 151 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Caldwell County Schools School District?
Caldwell County Schools School District manages 25 public schools serving 10,596 students.
What is the rank of Caldwell County Schools School District?
Caldwell County Schools School District is ranked #175 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Caldwell County Schools School District?
73% of Caldwell County Schools School District students are White, 14% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 5% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Caldwell County Schools School District?
Caldwell County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Caldwell County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,023 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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