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Caldwell County Schools

At a glance

141^stof 242 North Carolina districts▲ 10

Better than 41% of North Carolina districts

Elementary 14 Middle 4 High 6 Alternative 1Grades PK, KG-13

1914 Hickory Boulevard SW
Lenoir, NC 28645·(828) 728-8407·All North Carolina district rankings →

Statewide performance 2017–2025

2025: better than 41.7% of districts

Schools

10,667

Students

Top rankedCaldwell Early College95^th of 641 North Carolina high schools

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Biggest riser

Gamewell Elementary up 180 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Kings Creek Elementary 13.5 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

4★

3★

2★

1★

3 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

Compare North Carolina districts →See the top-ranked North Carolina schools →

Summary:

The Caldwell County Schools district in North Carolina comprises 25 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a diverse student population, with schools ranging in performance from standout academic achievers to those struggling with low proficiency rates.

A few schools stand out as high-performing within the district, including Caldwell Early College, which ranks 95th out of 641 high schools statewide and has exceptional test scores, and Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy, which ranks 113th statewide. At the elementary level, Granite Falls Elementary and Hudson Elementary also demonstrate strong academic performance. In contrast, some schools, such as West Caldwell High, struggle with low proficiency rates.

The district as a whole faces challenges, with the majority of schools having very high free/reduced lunch rates, indicating high levels of economic disadvantage among the student populations. Funding levels also vary widely, from under $7,000 per student at Caldwell Early College to nearly $40,000 per student at Horizons Elementary. Addressing these disparities and ensuring equitable access to resources will be crucial for improving overall district performance and providing all students with a quality education.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Baton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Baton School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-9531	357	23	15.4	99.2%	303 (84.9%)	6 (1.7%)	29 (8.1%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	60	564^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.1%		60.8	568^th of 1505 public elementary schools	62.3%	4					68.0	62.7	56.9				52.0	58.8	52.3				70.8		$9,953	$1,175	$8,778
Collettsville School	Public	PK, KG-8	4690 Collettsville School Rd	Collettsville	28611	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6913	321	20	16.3	98.8%	299 (93.1%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	37.9	952^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	36.1%		54.3	678^th of 1505 public elementary schools	55.0%	274					70.3	44.8	53.5	48.7	62.2	56.8	40.5	41.4	46.5	41.0	54.1	62.2	55.8	64.9	$9,454	$800	$8,654
Davenport A+ School	Public	PK, KG-5	901 College Avenue SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6941	429	25	17.4	99.3%	163 (38.0%)	56 (13.1%)	162 (37.8%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (10.3%)	41.7	886^th of 1490 public elementary schools	40.5%		36.7	981^st of 1505 public elementary schools	34.8%	95					42.0	51.3	66.2				34.8	50.0	59.1				59.1		$9,609	$958	$8,651
Dudley Shoals Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 Dudley Shoals Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-3457	433	26	16.4	99.3%	369 (85.2%)	6 (1.4%)	25 (5.8%)	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.5%)	49.5	751^st of 1490 public elementary schools	49.6%		43.5	864^th of 1505 public elementary schools	42.6%	113					63.4	39.7	68.9				47.9	45.6	57.4				65.6		$9,484	$1,010	$8,473
Gamewell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2904 Morganton Boulevard	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 758-1193	459	27	16.8	99.3%	320 (69.7%)	40 (8.7%)	49 (10.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.0%)	25.2	1179^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.9%		15.2	1359^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.7%	180					54.1	29.6	22.8				55.3	35.4	36.7				50.6		$9,383	$1,070	$8,312
Gamewell Middle	Public	6-8	3210 Gamewell School Road	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6204	457	30	15.3	98.5%	282 (61.7%)	47 (10.3%)	89 (19.5%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	18.6	648^th of 773 public middle schools	16.2%		25.6	610^th of 793 public middle schools	23.1%	38								49.6	21.5	24.7				47.3	27.2	36.3		38.2	$8,743	$1,279	$7,464
Granite Falls Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	60 N Highland Avenue	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2222	647	35	18.4	99.2%	506 (78.2%)	22 (3.4%)	84 (13.0%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.3%)	67.8	433^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%		63.3	520^th of 1505 public elementary schools	65.4%	87					79.4	60.6	66.7				59.8	60.6	54.9				65.7		$8,703	$796	$7,907
Granite Falls Middle	Public	6-8	4 West Highland Ave	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2341	518	34	15.3	99.4%	402 (77.6%)	16 (3.1%)	65 (12.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.0%)	65.9	243^rd of 773 public middle schools	68.6%		63.3	263^rd of 793 public middle schools	66.8%	20								64.6	57.2	61.6				53.1	59.0	58.5		69.5	$9,031	$920	$8,111
Happy Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1350 Yadkin River Road	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-3496	234	13	18.5	97.9%	212 (90.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.1%)	32.7	1042^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	30.1%		41.1	910^th of 1505 public elementary schools	39.5%	132					64.5	37.5	29.4	53.1	38.9	19.2	38.7	33.3	29.4	59.4	55.6	53.8	35.3	53.8	$10,168	$1,178	$8,990
Hibriten High	Public	9-12	1350 Panther Trail SE	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 758-7376	818	39	21.0	98.7%	538 (65.8%)	71 (8.7%)	147 (18.0%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	53 (6.5%)	39	383^rd of 641 public high schools	40.2%		38.2	382^nd of 640 public high schools	40.3%	1	31.9	54.4	30.3	72.5															$10,067	$942	$9,125
Hudson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Roy Coffey Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-3712	665	34	19.4	97.0%	506 (76.1%)	17 (2.6%)	88 (13.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.5%)	56.3	629^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.8%		57.2	631^st of 1505 public elementary schools	58.1%	2					64.7	53.0	68.6				42.0	62.0	49.0				72.5		$9,567	$1,023	$8,544
Hudson Middle	Public	6-8	291 Pine Mountain Road	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-4281	551	33	16.6	98.9%	456 (82.8%)	6 (1.1%)	66 (12.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	47.8	407^th of 773 public middle schools	47.3%		60	289^th of 793 public middle schools	63.6%	118								48.7	61.8	43.4				41.5	57.2	50.3		60.9	$9,317	$1,021	$8,296
Kings Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3680 Wilkesboro Boulevard	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-6039	153	11	13.5	98.0%	137 (89.5%)	1 (0.7%)	8 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.6%)	15.9	1339^th of 1490 public elementary schools	10.1%		25.7	1183^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	21.4%	156					40.0	17.6	16.7	19.0	36.8	17.6	46.7	41.2	44.4	38.1	52.6	58.8	33.3	52.9	$11,461	$1,809	$9,651
Lower Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	630 Lower Creek Drive NE	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-4022	396	23	17.4	99.2%	280 (70.7%)	28 (7.1%)	44 (11.1%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.8%)	60.6	553^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	62.9%		64.4	498^th of 1505 public elementary schools	66.9%	55					72.7	52.2	59.7				47.0	59.7	68.7				64.2		$8,688	$857	$7,832
Sawmills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4436 Sawmills School Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-2610	351	20	17.2	99.1%	272 (77.5%)	7 (2.0%)	46 (13.1%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	36.5	973^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.7%		33.8	1033^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	31.4%	60					59.6	38.6	52.9				42.3	45.5	45.1				58.8		$11,245	$974	$10,271
South Caldwell High	Public	9-12	7035 Spartan Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 396-2188	1,272	67	19.0	99.1%	1,030 (81.0%)	25 (2.0%)	151 (11.9%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (4.6%)	51	288^th of 641 public high schools	55.1%		46.9	318^th of 640 public high schools	50.3%	30	40.5	62.7	35.7	79.0															$9,486	$729	$8,757
Valmead Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Elizabeth Drive NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 754-9612	305	18	16.7	97.4%	133 (43.6%)	62 (20.3%)	75 (24.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.1%)	17.2	1323^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	11.2%		21.3	1263^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	16.1%	60					45.8	37.0	39.5				22.9	39.1	37.2				51.2		$13,388	$1,976	$11,412
West Caldwell High	Public	9-12	300 W Caldwell Drive	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 758-5583	634	36	17.7	98.7%	364 (57.4%)	63 (9.9%)	147 (23.2%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (8.5%)	17.6	542^nd of 641 public high schools	15.4%		17.9	529^th of 640 public high schools	17.3%	13	21.7	37.2	28.4	39.7															$11,229	$831	$10,398
Whitnel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1425 Berkley Street SW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 728-6423	330	16	20.0	94.8%	196 (59.4%)	27 (8.2%)	79 (23.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.6%)	26.5	1146^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.1%		33.6	1035^th of 1505 public elementary schools	31.2%	111					43.8	60.6	43.8				25.0	54.5	37.5				46.9		$11,973	$1,307	$10,666
William Lenoir Middle	Public	6-8	1366 Wildcat Trail	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 726-3910	512	30	17.1	98.8%	300 (58.6%)	60 (11.7%)	110 (21.5%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.8%)	50.9	381^st of 773 public middle schools	50.7%		53.6	351^st of 793 public middle schools	55.7%	30								53.2	50.6	35.8				50.3	48.1	59.1		74.2	$9,237	$791	$8,446
Gateway School	Public	6-12	1889 Dudley Shoals Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-8373	53	9	5.9	94.3%	33 (62.3%)	2 (3.8%)	9 (17.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (15.1%)								(n/a)			18.2						7.7						23.1				$28,313	$1,830	$26,484
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy	Public	9-12	2857 Hickory Boulevard	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 759-4640	218	10	21.1	33.9%	173 (79.4%)	4 (1.8%)	25 (11.5%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.5%)	84.4	113^th of 641 public high schools	82.4%		80.9	130^th of 640 public high schools	79.7%	17	78.2	87.3	60.0	85.2															$8,388	$210	$8,178
Horizons Elementary	Public	K-5	332 Greenhaven Dr. NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 726-3855	29	13	2.3	89.7%	21 (72.4%)	3 (10.3%)	4 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.4%)								(n/a)																			$39,602	$516	$39,086
Caldwell Early College	Public	9-12	2859 Hickory Blvd SW	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 759-4636	387	16	24.9	39.0%	285 (73.6%)	8 (2.1%)	68 (17.6%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	87.2	95^th of 641 public high schools	85.2%		81.7	126^th of 640 public high schools	80.3%	31	89.8	92.5	55.4	93.4															$7,027	$517	$6,510
Caldwell Online Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	4-12	332 Greenhaven Dr NW	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(828) 726-3855	138	2	73.7	52.9%	109 (79.0%)	1 (0.7%)	20 (14.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.8%)								(n/a)	53.3	76.9	25.0	22.2				40.0	47.1	35.3				50.0	64.7	64.7		47.1

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Burke County Schools	2.92 mi	27	121^st
The New Dimensions School	8.87 mi	1	49^th
Oak Hill Charter School	9.32 mi	1	221^st
NC Health and Human Services	9.44 mi	11
Governor Morehead School for the Blind	10.26 mi	3

See the top NC North Carolina districts

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.