For the 2025 school year, there are 45 public schools serving 22,551 students in Catawba County, NC (there are 17 private schools, serving 2,233 private students). 91% of all K-12 students in Catawba County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Catawba County, NC are Bandys High School, Sherrills Ford Elementary School and Fred T Foard High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Catawba County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Catawba County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Catawba County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Bandys High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5040 E Bandys Road
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-1471
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-1471
Grades: 9-12
| 923 students
Rank: #22.
Sherrills Ford Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8103 Sherrills Ford Road
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673
(828) 478-2662
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673
(828) 478-2662
Grades: K-6
| 578 students
Rank: #33.
Fred T Foard High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3407 Plateau Road
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1496
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1496
Grades: 9-12
| 956 students
Rank: #44.
Shuford Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
810 Hunsucker Drive
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-1973
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-1973
Grades: K-5
| 402 students
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5911 Dwayne Starnes Road
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 294-2020
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 294-2020
Grades: K-6
| 713 students
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Oakwood Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
366 4th Street Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-1340
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-1340
Grades: PK-5
| 326 students
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
W M Jenkins Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3750 N Center Street
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-3491
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-3491
Grades: K-5
| 261 students
Rank: #88.
Maiden High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
600 West Main Street
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8197
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8197
Grades: 9-12
| 879 students
Rank: #99.
Saint Stephens High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3205 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9841
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9841
Grades: 9-12
| 1,298 students
Rank: #1010.
Clyde Campbell Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2121 35th Avenue Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2769
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2769
Grades: PK-6
| 501 students
Rank: #1111.
Bunker Hill High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4675 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-3355
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-3355
Grades: 9-12
| 883 students
Rank: #1212.
Snow Creek Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3238 Snow Creek Rd
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2335
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2335
Grades: PK-6
| 569 students
Rank: #1313.
Challenger Early College High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2550 Hwy 70 Se
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-2980
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-2980
Grades: 9-12
| 362 students
Rank: #1414.
Discovery High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
301 West 18th St
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 466-5581
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 466-5581
Grades: 9-12
| 162 students
Rank: #1515.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Grades: 9-12
| 232 students
Rank: #1616.
Jacobs Fork Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3431 Plateau Road
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1827
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1827
Grades: 7-8
| 443 students
Rank: #1717.
Balls Creek Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2620 Balls Creek Road
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4766
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4766
Grades: PK-6
| 698 students
Rank: #1818.
Mill Creek Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1041 Shiloh Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-1494
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-1494
Grades: 7-8
| 421 students
Rank: #1919.
Maiden Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
518 North C Avenue
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-2326
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-2326
Grades: 7-8
| 405 students
Rank: #2020.
Hickory High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1234 3rd Street Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Grades: 9-12
| 1,034 students
Rank: #2121.
Startown Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4119 Startown Road
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-1257
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-1257
Grades: PK-6
| 534 students
Rank: #2222.
Blackburn Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4377 W Nc 10 Hwy
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1344
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1344
Grades: K-6
| 488 students
Rank: #2323.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
302 28th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-6300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-6300
Grades: 6-8
| 458 students
Rank: #2424.
Harry M Arndt Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3350 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9545
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9545
Grades: 7-8
| 628 students
Rank: #2525.
Newton-conover High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
338 W 15th Street
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 465-0920
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 465-0920
Grades: 9-12
| 749 students
Rank: #2626.
North Newton Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
221 West 26th St
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-2631
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-2631
Grades: K-5
| 389 students
Rank: #2727.
Charles H Tuttle Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2872 Water Plant Road
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-3080
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-3080
Grades: K-6
| 384 students
Rank: #2828.
Maiden Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
201 N Main Avenue
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8769
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8769
Grades: PK-6
| 538 students
Rank: #2929.
Ray Childers Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1183 Cape Hickory Road
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-1340
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-1340
Grades: PK-5
| 447 students
Rank: #3030.
Claremont Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3384 E Main Street
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7921
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7921
Grades: PK-6
| 440 students
Rank: #3131.
Newton-conover Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
873 Northern Dr Nw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-4221
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-4221
Grades: 6-8
| 544 students
Rank: #3232.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4670 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-2754
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-2754
Grades: 7-8
| 442 students
Rank: #3333.
Longview Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
737 12th Street Sw
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-0975
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-0975
Grades: 3-5
| 313 students
Rank: #3434.
Catawba Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5415 Hudson Chapel Road
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-3131
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-3131
Grades: PK-6
| 421 students
Rank: #3535.
Grandview Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
451 Catawba Valley Boulevard S
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 328-2289
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 328-2289
Grades: 6-8
| 393 students
Show 10 more public schools in Catawba County, NC (out of 45 total schools)
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Catawba County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
2952 N Oxford Street
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-2051
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-2051
Grades: K-6
| 56 students
S Campus 420 North Center St
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 345-5807
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 345-5807
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
2110 Main Avenue Se
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 327-3689
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 327-3689
Grades: PK-6
| 326 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Catawba County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Catawba County, NC include Bandys High School, Sherrills Ford Elementary School and Fred T Foard High School.
How many public schools are located in Catawba County?
45 public schools are located in Catawba County.
What percentage of students in Catawba County go to public school?
91% of all K-12 students in Catawba County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Catawba County?
Catawba County public schools minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Catawba County include: Grandview Middle School vs. Northview Middle School, Charles H Tuttle Elementary School vs. Maiden Elementary School, Northview Middle School vs. Grandview Middle School
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