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Dudley Shoals Elementary

Q: Is Dudley Shoals Elementary a good school?

Dudley Shoals Elementary ranks 910 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

910^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Dudley Shoals Elementary, a pre-K–5 school in Granite Falls, NC, enrolls about 433 students as part of Caldwell County Schools. The school currently ranks in the 39th percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, a mid-tier standing that represents a clear shift from a decade ago, when it consistently ranked in the upper-middle range. Its recent path has been uneven, too: after dropping to the 25th percentile in 2022-23, it rebounded to the 50th percentile, then slipped back to its current level. Nearly all students come from low-income families, a fact that makes the academic patterns especially interesting.

Nearby schools create a useful frame. Granite Falls Elementary, just a few miles away in the same district, ranks in the 73rd percentile; Hudson Elementary in the same district ranks in the 62nd; Bethlehem Elementary in Alexander County and Clyde Campbell Elementary in Catawba County rank in the 75th and 76th percentiles. Dudley Shoals outperforms some local schools, including Sawmills Elementary (30th percentile), Whitnel Elementary (9th percentile), Viewmont Elementary (6th percentile), and Oak Hill Charter School (9th percentile). Since nearly all these schools serve similarly high-poverty populations, income alone doesn't explain the differences.

There are clear strengths to build on. Chronic absenteeism was 17.3% in 2024-25, better than both district and state averages. Academically, 5th grade stands out: science proficiency reached 71.8% and math 63.4%, both above state averages, and 4th grade reading also edged past the state. However, 3rd grade results are a concern—only 39.7% of students were proficient in reading and 47.1% in math, well below statewide figures. Results also vary by student group: low-income students have recently compared favorably with peers across the state, while gifted students have trailed typical gifted-student performance. For parents, that suggests a school that performs unevenly by grade and group, but one that also shows what's possible when attendance stays strong and students reach upper elementary.

433

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

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 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 39th (2026) from a 25th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (54% vs 61% meeting standards)

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

!Mathematics scores 10 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg61%

910^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

162^nd of 246Caldwell 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
2026	39.7	910 of 1492	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	40.2	903 of 1447	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	39.3	655 of 743	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	45.1	781 of 1434	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	39.7	882 of 1451	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	17.9	1027 of 1146	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
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

Special Education (2025)49th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)46th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)38th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)12th percentile-27 vs school

White (2026)10th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science72%+4 vs state

Mathematics53%-10 vs state

Reading49%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dudley Shoals Elementary

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	—	369 (85.2%)	6 (1.4%)	25 (5.8%)	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.5%)	39.7	910^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.0%		49.5	751^st of 1490 public elementary schools	49.6%	159	47.1	48.5	63.4				39.7	60.6	46.5				71.8		$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%)	14.9	1364^th of 1492 public elementary schools	8.6%		24.9	1188^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.3%	176	54.1	45.0	37.5	30.0	27.8	37.5	32.4	40.0	33.3	40.0	33.3	50.0	45.8	43.8
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	—	506 (78.2%)	22 (3.4%)	84 (13.0%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.3%)	70.8	399^th of 1492 public elementary schools	73.3%		67.8	433^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	70.9%	34	69.0	75.2	68.8				60.9	70.9	59.1				73.1		$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	—	335 (77.0%)	11 (2.5%)	43 (9.9%)	19 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.0%)	72.4	370^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.2%		73.3	340^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.2%	30	75.0	69.8	61.3				67.6	66.7	66.1				77.4		$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%)	60.1	573^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	61.6%		56.3	629^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.8%	56	66.0	56.6	74.0				53.4	51.6	69.2				80.0		$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	—	272 (77.5%)	7 (2.0%)	46 (13.1%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	32.5	1049^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.7%		36.5	973^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	34.7%	76	51.0	35.4	58.8				51.0	52.1	52.9				55.9		$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	—	116 (42.0%)	35 (12.7%)	59 (21.4%)	18 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (17.4%)	48.3	762^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	48.9%		63.4	505^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.1%	257	62.2	57.9	64.1				55.6	54.4	46.2				69.2		$9,330	$894	$8,436
Ray Childers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1183 Cape Hickory Road	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 324-1340	460	29	15.7	—	304 (66.1%)	6 (1.3%)	58 (12.6%)	61 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.5%)	65.5	497^th of 1492 public elementary schools	66.7%		64.9	487^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.3%	10	65.2	74.0	79.7				55.1	57.1	57.8				78.1		$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%)	15.2	1360^th of 1492 public elementary schools	8.8%		26.5	1146^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.1%	214	46.3	30.6	40.5				34.1	36.1	42.9				54.8		$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	—	144 (28.3%)	129 (25.3%)	165 (32.4%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (11.0%)	11	1406^th of 1492 public elementary schools	5.8%		17.1	1326^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.0%	80	52.3	26.5	33.8				40.7	33.7	32.4				35.2		$9,264	$1,086	$8,178

Frequently Asked Questions about Dudley Shoals Elementary

What district is Dudley Shoals Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

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.

Is Dudley Shoals Elementary a good school?

Dudley Shoals Elementary ranks 910^th of 1492 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.

Rate Dudley Shoals Elementary!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.