Best traditional public schools in Catawba County Schools (2025)
District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 27 schools in Catawba County Schools, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.
- Elementary Schools in Catawba County Schools
- Middle Schools in Catawba County Schools
- High Schools in Catawba County Schools
- Schools by Math Proficiency in Catawba County Schools
- Schools by Reading Proficiency in Catawba County Schools
- Lowest Student–Teacher Ratio in Catawba County Schools
- Largest Schools in Catawba County Schools
- 167Challenger Early College HighHickory · Public High82% Math proficiency · 376 students
- 264Sherrills Ford ElementarySherrills Ford · Public Elementary59% Math proficiency · 633 students
- 359Bandys HighCatawba · Public High73% Math proficiency · 935 students
- 454Jacobs Fork MiddleNewton · Public Middle49% Math proficiency · 482 students
- 552Mill Creek MiddleClaremont · Public Middle47% Math proficiency · 477 students
- 649Fred T Foard HighNewton · Public High51% Math proficiency · 930 students
- 749Mountain View ElementaryHickory · Public Elementary61% Math proficiency · 708 students
- 844Maiden HighMaiden · Public High42% Math proficiency · 852 students
- 942Snow Creek ElementaryHickory · Public Elementary50% Math proficiency · 551 students
- 1040Harry M Arndt MiddleHickory · Public Middle48% Math proficiency · 601 students
- 1139Saint Stephens HighHickory · Public High55% Math proficiency · 1,268 students
- 1239Startown ElementaryNewton · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 540 students
- 1337Balls Creek ElementaryNewton · Public Elementary53% Math proficiency · 686 students
- 1435Clyde Campbell ElementaryHickory · Public Elementary43% Math proficiency · 505 students
- 1533Maiden Middle SchoolMaiden · Public Middle42% Math proficiency · 451 students
- 1632Charles H Tuttle ElementaryMaiden · Public Elementary45% Math proficiency · 368 students
- 1732Blackburn ElementaryNewton · Public Elementary43% Math proficiency · 484 students
- 1831River Bend MiddleClaremont · Public Middle36% Math proficiency · 450 students
- 1928Lyle Creek ElementaryConover · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 458 students
- 2026Maiden ElementaryMaiden · Public Elementary36% Math proficiency · 562 students
- 2126Bunker Hill HighClaremont · Public High41% Math proficiency · 845 students
- 2225Banoak ElementaryVale · Public Elementary32% Math proficiency · 291 students
- 2324Oxford ElementaryClaremont · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 540 students
- 2424Saint Stephens ElementaryConover · Public Elementary34% Math proficiency · 711 students
- 2524Webb A Murray ElementaryHickory · Public Elementary30% Math proficiency · 380 students
- 2623Claremont ElementaryClaremont · Public Elementary30% Math proficiency · 462 students
- 2722Catawba Elementary SchoolCatawba · Public Elementary29% Math proficiency · 450 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Challenger Early College High Hickory · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 67.1 Top 25% | 82% Math proficiency | 376 |
| 2 | Sherrills Ford Elementary Sherrills Ford · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 64.1 Top 50% | 59% Math proficiency | 633 |
| 3 | Bandys High Catawba · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 59.2 Top 50% | 73% Math proficiency | 935 |
| 4 | Jacobs Fork Middle Newton · Middle · Grades 7–8 | Public | 53.8 Top 50% | 49% Math proficiency | 482 |
| 5 | Mill Creek Middle Claremont · Middle · Grades 7–8 | Public | 52.0 Top 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 477 |
| 6 | Fred T Foard High Newton · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 49.2 Lower 50% | 51% Math proficiency | 930 |
| 7 | Mountain View Elementary Hickory · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 49.2 Lower 50% | 61% Math proficiency | 708 |
| 8 | Maiden High Maiden · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 43.6 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 852 |
| 9 | Snow Creek Elementary Hickory · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 41.8 Lower 50% | 50% Math proficiency | 551 |
| 10 | Harry M Arndt Middle Hickory · Middle · Grades 7–8 | Public | 40.4 Lower 50% | 48% Math proficiency | 601 |
| 11 | Saint Stephens High Hickory · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 39.4 Lower 50% | 55% Math proficiency | 1,268 |
| 12 | Startown Elementary Newton · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 39.3 Lower 50% | 52% Math proficiency | 540 |
| 13 | Balls Creek Elementary Newton · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 37.1 Lower 50% | 53% Math proficiency | 686 |
| 14 | Clyde Campbell Elementary Hickory · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 34.6 Lower 50% | 43% Math proficiency | 505 |
| 15 | Maiden Middle School Maiden · Middle · Grades 7–8 | Public | 32.9 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 451 |
| 16 | Charles H Tuttle Elementary Maiden · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 32.1 Lower 50% | 45% Math proficiency | 368 |
| 17 | Blackburn Elementary Newton · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 32.0 Lower 50% | 43% Math proficiency | 484 |
| 18 | River Bend Middle Claremont · Middle · Grades 7–8 | Public | 31.4 Lower 50% | 36% Math proficiency | 450 |
| 19 | Lyle Creek Elementary Conover · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 28.4 Lower 50% | 37% Math proficiency | 458 |
| 20 | Maiden Elementary Maiden · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 26.3 Lower 50% | 36% Math proficiency | 562 |
| 21 | Bunker Hill High Claremont · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 25.9 Lower 50% | 41% Math proficiency | 845 |
| 22 | Banoak Elementary Vale · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 24.5 Lower 50% | 32% Math proficiency | 291 |
| 23 | Oxford Elementary Claremont · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 24.1 Lower 50% | 35% Math proficiency | 540 |
| 24 | Saint Stephens Elementary Conover · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 23.9 Lower 50% | 34% Math proficiency | 711 |
| 25 | Webb A Murray Elementary Hickory · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 23.5 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 380 |
| 26 | Claremont Elementary Claremont · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 23.0 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 462 |
| 27 | Catawba Elementary School Catawba · Elementary · Grades PK–6 | Public | 21.9 Lower 50% | 29% Math proficiency | 450 |
Challenger Early College High in Hickory leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Catawba County Schools with a Success Index (US) of 67.1. Of the 27 schools shown, 27 are public.
For the full picture see the wider North Carolina traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Catawba County Schools page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on grade level in reading and math?
Success Tutoring offers personalised English and math tutoring from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Start with a free online assessment and a clear plan for the year ahead.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best public school in Catawba County Schools?
Challenger Early College High in Hickory, North Carolina ranks first among traditional public schools in Catawba County Schools with a Success Index (US) of 67.1 out of 100 (Enrollment: 376).
How are traditional public schools in Catawba County Schools ranked?
Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.