For the 2025 school year, there are 29 public elementary schools serving 12,734 students in Catawba County, NC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Catawba County, NC are Sherrills Ford Elementary School, Shuford Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Catawba County, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 49% statewide average). Elementary schools in Catawba County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Catawba County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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: #1717.
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: #1818.
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: #1919.
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: #2020.
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
Rank: #2121.
South Newton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
306 West I Street
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4061
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4061
Grades: PK-5
| 326 students
Rank: #2222.
Lyle Creek Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1845 Edgewater Drive Nw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-0299
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-0299
Grades: PK-6
| 444 students
Rank: #2323.
Oxford Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5915 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7220
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7220
Grades: PK-6
| 547 students
Rank: #2424.
Webb A Murray Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3901 Section House Road
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2196
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2196
Grades: PK-6
| 384 students
Rank: #2525.
Viewmont Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
21 16th Avenue Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-7049
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-7049
Grades: PK-5
| 489 students
Rank: #2626.
Saint Stephens Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
684 30th Street Ne
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 256-2570
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 256-2570
Grades: K-6
| 730 students
Rank: #2727.
Southwest Primary
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1580 32nd Street Sw
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 324-8884
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 324-8884
Grades: PK-2
| 311 students
Rank: #2828.
Conover Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
108 7th Street Place Sw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-9532
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-9532
Grades: PK-12
| 106 students
Rank: #2929.
Catawba Rosenwald Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
403 6th Ave Sw
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-2734
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-2734
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
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 elementary schools in Catawba County, NC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Catawba County, NC include Sherrills Ford Elementary School, Shuford Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Catawba County?
29 public elementary schools are located in Catawba County.
What is the racial composition of students in Catawba County?
Catawba County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary 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
Recent Articles

What Is A Charter School?
Explore the world of charter schools in this comprehensive guide. Learn about their history, how they operate, and the pros and cons of this educational innovation. Discover key facts about charter schools, including admission policies, demographics, and funding, as well as what to look for when considering a charter school for your child.

10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
Discover the 10 compelling reasons why high school sports are beneficial for students. This comprehensive article explores how athletics enhance academic performance, foster personal growth, and develop crucial life skills. From improved fitness and time management to leadership development and community representation, learn why participating in high school sports can be a game-changer for students' overall success and well-being.

February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.