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Dudley Shoals Elementary

Q: Is Dudley Shoals Elementary a good school?

Dudley Shoals Elementary ranks 751 st of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

751^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Dudley Shoals Elementary is a public elementary school located in Granite Falls, North Carolina, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 432 students. The school is part of the Caldwell County Schools district, which is ranked 141 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dudley Shoals Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina elementary schools, with a ranking between 539 and 1,131 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally below the Caldwell County and North Carolina averages across grade levels and subject areas, particularly in mathematics, where proficiency rates range from 26.5% to 68.9% over the past 4 years, compared to the state average of 55.9% to 64.1%. However, the school's science proficiency rates are more competitive, ranging from 58.8% to 73.9% over the past 4 years, which is closer to the state average of 62% to 66.2%.

Compared to nearby schools, Whitnel Elementary, Sawmills Elementary, and Hudson Elementary, all within the Caldwell County Schools district, have higher rankings and better student performance on state assessments. However, Dudley Shoals Elementary outperforms the nearby schools in the Hickory City and Burke County districts, such as Viewmont Elementary, Ray Childers Elementary, and Oak Hill Charter School, which have even lower rankings and student performance.

433

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,484

Per pupil spending ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1500 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630-8424

(828) 396-3457

District: Caldwell County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.2%

Hispanic:

5.8%

Two or more races:

5.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Dudley Shoals Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 25th percentile in 2023 → 50th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 50th (2025) from a 25th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school55%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg57%

751^st of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 17 pts since 2015

From top 34% (2015) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 13Elementary Schools in the Caldwell County Schools

141^st of 242Caldwell County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	49.5	751 of 1490	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.5	864 of 1505	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.4	1131 of 1502	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.9	989 of 1514	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.0	823 of 1489	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.3	709 of 1473	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	605 of 1434	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.9	539 of 1429	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	50.2	727 of 1425	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	65.0	485 of 1440	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	58.3	566 of 1390	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	45.4	738 of 1403	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	69.9	411 of 1388	70.4%	★★★★☆
2011	74.9	300 of 1381	78.3%	★★★★☆
2010	61.6	578 of 1363	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.2	481 of 1354	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.0	547 of 1324	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.7	429 of 1293	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	71.9	309 of 1276	75.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	75.9	105 of 897	88.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	722 of 1451	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.7	893 of 1455	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.8	1138 of 1459	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.2	973 of 1458	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.2	1057 of 1440	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.8	891 of 1424	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.8	787 of 1405	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.4	461 of 710	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.3	355 of 494	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.3	307 of 1437	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	59.6	516 of 1450	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.7	834 of 1437	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.5	594 of 1366	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	297 of 1329	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	62.3	443 of 1361	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.2	410 of 1332	69.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	751 of 1450	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.3	819 of 1464	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.6	1086 of 1461	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.3	955 of 1464	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.2	544 of 1444	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.7	443 of 1430	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.9	407 of 1413	71.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	421 of 821	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.4	342 of 801	57.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	988 of 1172	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.1	1033 of 1166	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.8	1151 of 1183	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	1087 of 1194	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.3	1069 of 1172	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.5	1018 of 1183	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.6	898 of 1178	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2018)88th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile+29 vs school

Female (2025)50th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)49th percentile~ school

Male (2025)48th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2025)35th percentile-15 vs school

White (2025)16th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Science66%+4 vs state

Mathematics57%-4 vs state

Reading50%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Dudley Shoals Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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	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
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
Oak Hill Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4603 Oak Hill School Rd.	Lenoir	28645	Caldwell County	Oak Hill Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(828) 759-1383	253	17	15.3		213 (84.2%)	6 (2.4%)	13 (5.1%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	24.9	1188^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.3%		14.5	1367^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.2%	179	80.0	28.6	40.9	25.0	27.8	13.6	55.0	33.3	40.9	25.0	16.7	54.5	22.7	59.1
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
Bethlehem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7900 NC Hwy 127	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 495-8198	435	26	16.9	99.1%	335 (77.0%)	11 (2.5%)	43 (9.9%)	19 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.0%)	73.3	340^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.2%		74	344^th of 1505 public elementary schools	77.1%	4	76.8	56.7	69.6				58.0	61.2	62.0				84.6		$9,332	$688	$8,643
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
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
W M Jenkins Elementary	Public	K-5	3750 N Center Street	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 327-3491	276	18	15.4	98.9%	116 (42.0%)	35 (12.7%)	59 (21.4%)	18 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (17.4%)	63.4	505^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.1%		68.5	436^th of 1505 public elementary schools	71.0%	69	72.5	52.8	72.3				43.1	47.2	63.8				80.9		$9,330	$894	$8,436
Ray Childers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1183 Cape Hickory Road	Hickory	28601	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 324-1340	460	29	15.7	99.3%	304 (66.1%)	6 (1.3%)	58 (12.6%)	61 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.5%)	64.9	487^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.3%		63.7	514^th of 1505 public elementary schools	65.8%	27	75.3	69.7	76.4				48.1	60.6	48.6				62.5		$10,027	$1,439	$8,588
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
Viewmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	21 16th Avenue NW	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 324-7049	509	30	16.9	99.4%	144 (28.3%)	129 (25.3%)	165 (32.4%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (11.0%)	17.1	1326^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.0%		19.4	1295^th of 1505 public elementary schools	14.0%	31	44.2	28.9	50.0				26.7	33.7	37.2				46.5		$9,264	$1,086	$8,178

Frequently Asked Questions about Dudley Shoals Elementary

What district is Dudley Shoals Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

Is Dudley Shoals Elementary a good school?

Dudley Shoals Elementary ranks 751^st of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Dudley Shoals Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 433 students attended Dudley Shoals Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Dudley Shoals Elementary?

Students at Dudley Shoals Elementary are 85% White, 6% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

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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.