Best Schools in Catawba County, NC
Catawba County, NC has 69 public schools (14 high, 12 middle, 37 elementary) serving 33,403 students. On average they score 59% on state proficiency tests against a projected 51%, so schools in Catawba County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Catawba County, NC
The top high schools in Catawba County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Challenger Early College High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 352 Students
2. Discovery High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newton Conover City Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 193 Students
3. Bandys High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 864 Students
4. West Lincoln High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 756 Students
5. Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hickory City Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 229 Students
6. East Burke High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 879 Students
7. North Lincoln High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1079 Students
8. Saint Stephens High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1265 Students
9. Fred T Foard High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 956 Students
10. Lincolnton High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 813 Students
Best Middle Schools in Catawba County, NC
The top middle schools in Catawba County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. North Lincoln Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 776 Students
2. Jacobs Fork Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 440 Students
3. Maiden Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 421 Students
4. West Lincoln Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 554 Students
5. Newton-conover Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newton Conover City Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 603 Students
6. East Burke Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 645 Students
7. Harry M Arndt Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 631 Students
8. Mill Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 412 Students
9. River Bend Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 475 Students
10. Northview Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hickory City Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 480 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Catawba County, NC
The top elementary schools in Catawba County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Rock Springs Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 647 Students
2. Oakwood Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hickory City Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 341 Students
3. George Hildebrand Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burke County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 318 Students
4. Mountain View Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 686 Students
5. Battleground Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 403 Students
6. Sherrills Ford Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 517 Students
7. Union Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lincoln County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 323 Students
8. Balls Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 679 Students
9. North Newton Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newton Conover City Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 445 Students
10. Maiden Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catawba County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 499 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Catawba County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Catawba County, NC has a total population of 160,610 with 22% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 87%, and 25% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Catawba County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Catawba County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
21.99 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.09 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
17.89 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Catawba County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Catawba County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Catawba County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Catawba County, NC
How many schools are in Catawba County, NC?
Catawba County, NC has 69 public schools: 14 high schools, 12 middle schools and 37 elementary schools, serving 33,403 students in total.
How do schools in Catawba County perform on state tests?
On average, 69 schools in Catawba County score 59% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 51%, so on average schools in Catawba County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Catawba County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Catawba County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Catawba County
7 places in Catawba County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (7)
School districts (3)
- Catawba County Schools (28 schools)
- Hickory City Schools (9 schools)
- Newton Conover City Schools (7 schools)