Top Rankings
Caldwell County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 7 public high schools serving 3,450 students in Caldwell County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Caldwell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 69% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Caldwell County School have a Graduation Rate of 83%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Caldwell Early College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
25 Schools
760 Schools
# Students
10,597 Students
568,877 Students
# Teachers
610 Teachers
31,559 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Caldwell County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#175 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)47%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.46
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
15%
21%
% Black
5%
25%
% White
72%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,164 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,022 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$129 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$127 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,164
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,022
$11,592
Best Caldwell County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Caldwell Early College
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2859 Hickory Blvd Sw
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Gr: 9-13 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2857 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4640
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4640
Gr: 9-12 | 218 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #33.
Hibriten High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1350 Panther Trail Se
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-7376
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-7376
Gr: 9-12 | 818 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #44.
South Caldwell High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
7035 Spartan Drive
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 396-2188
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 396-2188
Gr: 9-12 | 1,272 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #55.
West Caldwell High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 W Caldwell Drive
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-5583
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-5583
Gr: 9-12 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Gateway School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1889 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Gr: 6-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
332 Greenhaven Dr Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Gr: 4-12 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 69:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
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