B−
Caldwell County Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves Lenoir, Sawmills, Granite Falls, Hudson, Gamewell, Cajah's Mountain, Rhodhiss and Cedar Rock, and parts of Hickory, Rutherford College and Blowing Rock.
Students
10,667
Schools
25
Spent per student
$12,425
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
18:1
Free or reduced lunch
95%
Debt
$14.7M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Caldwell County Schools
- School Grade B−: better than 50% of North Carolina districts
- 18 students per teacher
- Debt of $14.7M, about $1,380 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Catawba.
PK–6Catawba Elementary SchoolCatawba County Schools
7–85 middle schoolsCatawba County Schools
9–126 high schoolsCatawba County Schools
Test scores vs. NC
2020–21Math proficiency38%
State average 41.9%
Reading / language arts46%
State average 47.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)89%
State average 87.7%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$12,425 per student · 5% below NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 64%Support & administration 30%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 19%State 62%Federal 19%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
10,691’20
10,773’21
10,758’22
10,665’23
10,667’24
About steady.
Students
White 72%Hispanic 15%Two or more races 6%Black 5%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
25 public schools.
Hudson Elementary
B665 students20:1
Granite Falls Elementary
A−647 students18:1
Gamewell Elementary
C459 students17:1
Dudley Shoals Elementary
C+433 students16:1
Davenport A+ School
C429 students17:1
Lower Creek Elementary
B396 students17:1
Baton Elementary
B+357 students15:1
Sawmills Elementary
C351 students17:1
Whitnel Elementary
D330 students20:1
Collettsville School
B321 students16:1
Valmead Elementary
305 students17:1
Happy Valley Elementary
C+234 students19:1
Kings Creek Elementary
B153 students14:1
Horizons Elementary
D−29 students2:1
Hudson Middle
B−551 students17:1
Granite Falls Middle
B−518 students15:1
William Lenoir Middle
B−512 students17:1
Gamewell Middle
C+457 students15:1
South Caldwell High
B+1,272 students19:1
Hibriten High
B818 students21:1
West Caldwell High
B−634 students18:1
Caldwell Early College
A+387 students25:1
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
A+218 students21:1
Gateway School
D53 students6:1
Caldwell Online Academy
138 students73:1
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.