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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Catawba County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 16 public preschools serving 7,081 students in Catawba County, NC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Catawba County, NC are Oakwood Elementary School, Clyde Campbell Elementary School and Snow Creek Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Catawba County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Catawba County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Catawba County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Catawba County, NC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Catawba County, NC include Oakwood Elementary School, Clyde Campbell Elementary School and Snow Creek Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Catawba County?
16 public preschools are located in Catawba County.
What is the racial composition of students in Catawba County?
Catawba County public preschools minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?

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