Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Catawba County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 44 public schools serving 22,551 students in Catawba County, NC (there are 17 private schools, serving 2,012 private students). 92% of all K-12 students in Catawba County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
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 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Catawba County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bandys High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5040 E Bandys Road
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-1471
Gr: 9-12 | 935 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Sherrills Ford Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8103 Sherrills Ford Road
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673
(828) 478-2662
Gr: K-6 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
Fred T Foard High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3407 Plateau Road
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1496
Gr: 9-12 | 930 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #44.
Shuford Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
810 Hunsucker Drive
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-1973
Gr: K-5 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5911 Dwayne Starnes Road
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 294-2020
Gr: K-6 | 708 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Oakwood Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
366 4th Street Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-1340
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
W M Jenkins Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3750 N Center Street
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-3491
Gr: K-5 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #88.
Maiden High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
600 West Main Street
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8197
Gr: 9-12 | 852 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #99.
Saint Stephens High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3205 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9841
Gr: 9-12 | 1,268 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1010.
Clyde Campbell Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2121 35th Avenue Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2769
Gr: PK-6 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1111.
Bunker Hill High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4675 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-3355
Gr: 9-12 | 845 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1212.
Snow Creek Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3238 Snow Creek Rd
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2335
Gr: PK-6 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1313.
Challenger Early College High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2550 Hwy 70 Se
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-2980
Gr: 9-12 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1414.
Discovery High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
301 West 18th St
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 466-5581
Gr: 9-12 | 146 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1515.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Gr: 9-12 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1616.
Jacobs Fork Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3431 Plateau Road
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1827
Gr: 7-8 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1717.
Balls Creek Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2620 Balls Creek Road
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4766
Gr: PK-6 | 686 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1818.
Mill Creek Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1041 Shiloh Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-1494
Gr: 7-8 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1919.
Maiden Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
518 North C Avenue
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-2326
Gr: 7-8 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #2020.
Hickory High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1234 3rd Street Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Gr: 9-12 | 1,024 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2121.
Startown Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4119 Startown Road
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-1257
Gr: PK-6 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2222.
Blackburn Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4377 W Nc 10 Hwy
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1344
Gr: K-6 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #2323.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
302 28th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-6300
Gr: 6-8 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2424.
Harry M Arndt Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3350 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9545
Gr: 7-8 | 601 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2525.
Newton-conover High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
338 W 15th Street
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 465-0920
Gr: 9-12 | 724 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2626.
North Newton Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
221 West 26th St
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-2631
Gr: K-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2727.
Charles H Tuttle Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2872 Water Plant Road
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-3080
Gr: K-6 | 368 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2828.
Maiden Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
245 Bob Smyre Ave
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-8769
Gr: PK-6 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2929.
Ray Childers Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1183 Cape Hickory Road
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-1340
Gr: PK-5 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #3030.
Claremont Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3384 E Main Street
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7921
Gr: PK-6 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #3131.
Newton-conover Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
873 Northern Dr Nw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-4221
Gr: 6-8 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #3232.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4670 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-2754
Gr: 7-8 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3333.
Longview Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
737 12th Street Sw
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-0975
Gr: 3-5 | 269 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3434.
Catawba Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5415 Hudson Chapel Road
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-3131
Gr: PK-6 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #3535.
Grandview Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
451 Catawba Valley Boulevard S
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 328-2289
Gr: 6-8 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Show 9 more public schools in Catawba County, NC (out of 44 total schools)
Loading...

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?
92% of all K-12 students in Catawba County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
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 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Links

School Search Tools:
School by Type (NC):
Private & Boarding Schools:
State Links:

Most Popular Articles

Education Funding in America (2025 Update)
Education Funding in America (2025 Update)
 Cell Phones in Class? Many Schools are Saying Yes
Cell Phones in Class? Many Schools are Saying Yes
School Rankings by Category
School Rankings by Category
 The Impact of Social Media on Students – 2025 Updated Insights
The Impact of Social Media on Students – 2025 Updated Insights
 The Pros and Cons of Mandatory Gym Class in Public Schools
The Pros and Cons of Mandatory Gym Class in Public Schools

More Articles

Opinion
Public School Policies
Scholarships
Local School Topics
About Public Schools