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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Catawba County Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 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 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Elementary Schools in Catawba County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #3 - 53. - 5.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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: #1717.
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: #1818.
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: #1919.
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: #2020.
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%
Rank: #2121.
South Newton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
306 West I Street
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4061
Gr: PK-5 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #2222.
Lyle Creek Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1845 Edgewater Drive Nw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-0299
Gr: PK-6 | 458 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2323.
Oxford Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5915 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 459-7220
Gr: PK-6 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2424.
Webb A Murray Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3901 Section House Road
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2196
Gr: PK-6 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2525.
Viewmont Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
21 16th Avenue Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-7049
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2626.
Saint Stephens Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
684 30th Street Ne
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 256-2570
Gr: K-6 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2727.
Southwest Primary
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1580 32nd Street Sw
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 324-8884
Gr: PK-2 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #2828.
Conover Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
108 7th Street Place Sw
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-9532
Gr: PK-12 | 107 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2929.
Catawba Rosenwald Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
403 6th Ave Sw
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-2734
Gr: K-12 | 7 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 28%

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 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?

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