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Granite Falls Elementary

Q: Is Granite Falls Elementary a good school?

Granite Falls Elementary ranks 399 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

399^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Granite Falls Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Granite Falls, North Carolina, serving 647 students as part of Caldwell County Schools, and it is a standout performer in a district that otherwise ranks in the bottom third of the state. In 2025–2026, the school earned a 4-star rating and ranked 399th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools (73rd percentile). Among nearby Caldwell County elementary schools, Granite Falls Elementary is the clear academic leader, outranking Hudson Elementary, Baton Elementary, Dudley Shoals Elementary, and Sawmills Elementary across nearly every subject and grade. For example, 4th grade math proficiency was 75.2% at Granite Falls Elementary versus 48.5% at Dudley Shoals Elementary and 35.4% at Sawmills Elementary.

The school also beats state averages in every subject, which is remarkable given that 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Its economically disadvantaged students ranked in the 83rd percentile statewide in 2025–2026, up from the 62nd percentile two years earlier, showing the school is genuinely lifting outcomes for students who are often underserved elsewhere. Fourth grade is the standout: 70.9% of 4th graders were proficient in reading versus 57.7% statewide, and Granite Falls Elementary outpaces even the strongest nearby school, Icard Elementary, in both 4th grade reading and math. Still, 3rd grade reading has been persistently lower than 4th grade, and 5th grade math and science trail Icard Elementary and Ray Childers Elementary.

Chronic absenteeism has fallen for four straight years, from 31.2% in 2021–2022 to 14.3% in 2024–2025, far better than the district rate of 23.2% and the state rate of 24.2%. The school also spends less per student—$8,703—than every other nearby school, yet it achieves stronger results. Families should note that student-teacher ratios jumped from 14.7 to 18.4 in a single year, and gifted and special education students do not rank as highly as the school's overall population. Third grade math proficiency also dropped 10 points this year. Even with these caveats, Granite Falls Elementary is a high-poverty, high-performing school and an excellent option for families in the Granite Falls area.

647

Students ?

18.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

92.2%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 5.6% (any vaccine)

60 N Highland Avenue
Granite Falls, NC 28630-1299

(828) 396-2222

District: Caldwell County Schools

Students who attend Granite Falls Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Granite Falls Middle
High:	South Caldwell High

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.2%

Hispanic:

13.0%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Granite Falls Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 77th percentile in 2016 → 73rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (69% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg61%

399^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 23% (2016) to top 27% (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	70.8	399 of 1492	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	67.8	433 of 1490	70.9%	★★★★☆
2024	63.3	520 of 1505	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.0	361 of 1502	76.0%	★★★★☆
2022	77.3	288 of 1514	81.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	287 of 1489	80.7%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	399 of 1473	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	75.6	304 of 1434	78.8%	★★★★☆
2017	73.2	349 of 1429	75.6%	★★★★☆
2016	74.1	325 of 1425	77.2%	★★★★☆
2015	72.9	365 of 1440	74.7%	★★★★☆
2014	73.9	328 of 1390	76.4%	★★★★☆
2013	61.1	505 of 1403	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.3	290 of 1388	79.1%	★★★★☆
2011	76.6	259 of 1381	81.2%	★★★★☆
2010	71.4	370 of 1363	72.9%	★★★★☆
2009	81.0	186 of 1354	86.3%	★★★★☆
2008	71.3	327 of 1324	75.3%	★★★★☆
2007	67.9	394 of 1293	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	75.5	241 of 1276	81.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	64.5	201 of 878	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	73.1	125 of 897	86.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.5	425 of 1447	70.6%	★★★★☆
2025	58.4	580 of 1451	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.5	503 of 1455	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	503 of 1459	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.3	251 of 1458	82.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.0	463 of 1440	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.2	446 of 1424	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.9	286 of 1405	79.6%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	450 of 743	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.5	536 of 710	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.2	641 of 669	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	40.0	503 of 582	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.1	449 of 500	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	72.6	79 of 494	84.0%	★★★★☆
2019	64.9	220 of 612	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.4	266 of 981	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	49.3	487 of 961	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	71.5	188 of 951	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	33.2	652 of 893	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.4	339 of 843	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.7	239 of 865	72.4%	★★★★☆
2018	89.1	37 of 851	95.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	241 of 1434	83.2%	★★★★☆
2025	68.6	335 of 1437	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	58.1	550 of 1450	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.5	223 of 1437	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	73.6	231 of 1366	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	78.7	168 of 1329	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	69.1	330 of 1361	75.8%	★★★★☆
2018	76.4	202 of 1332	84.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.3	350 of 1451	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	72.9	336 of 1450	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	62.3	523 of 1464	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	78.2	250 of 1461	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	72.8	338 of 1464	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	83.2	191 of 1444	86.8%	★★★★☆
2019	72.1	340 of 1430	76.2%	★★★★☆
2018	74.2	312 of 1413	77.9%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	21.0	728 of 801	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.6	603 of 1146	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.6	606 of 1172	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.7	721 of 1166	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.5	618 of 1183	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	60.5	442 of 1194	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.5	443 of 1172	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.7	599 of 1183	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.2	485 of 1178	58.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+10 vs school

Disabled (2019)77th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)76th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)71st percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)47th percentile-26 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)39th percentile-34 vs school

Special Education (2024)9th percentile-56 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science73%+5 vs state

Mathematics71%+8 vs state

Reading64%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Granite Falls 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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 Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	92.2%	5.6%	$8,703	$796	$7,907
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	88.5%	3.8%	$11,245	$974	$10,271
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	—	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	93.7%	1.6%	$10,027	$1,439	$8,588
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	97%	3%	$9,567	$1,023	$8,544
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	98.4%	1.6%	$9,484	$1,010	$8,473
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	—	303 (84.9%)	6 (1.7%)	29 (8.1%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.9%)	55	654^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.2%		60	564^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.1%	90	78.7	53.8	61.2	66.0	50.0	53.1	69.4	92.9%	3.6%	$9,953	$1,175	$8,778
Icard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3087 Icard School Road	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 397-3491	265	21	12.7	—	188 (70.9%)	1 (0.4%)	32 (12.1%)	32 (12.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.5%)	76.6	290^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.6%		58.5	588^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.5%	298	81.6	72.1	76.9	68.4	60.5	61.5	82.1	100%	0%	$9,629	$1,361	$8,268
Hildebran Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	703 US Hwy 70 West	Hildebran	28637	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 397-3181	297	16	18.5	96.0%	225 (75.8%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.7%)	28 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.4%)	56.7	630^th of 1492 public elementary schools	57.8%		53.2	687^th of 1490 public elementary schools	53.9%	57	56.5	63.0	61.0	54.3	69.6	51.2	80.5	90%	5%	$10,444	$1,872	$8,572
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	97.4%	0%	$9,264	$1,086	$8,178
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	100%	0%	$9,330	$894	$8,436

Frequently Asked Questions about Granite Falls Elementary

What schools do graduates of Granite Falls Elementary attend?

Students who attend Granite Falls Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Granite Falls Middle
High : South Caldwell High

How many students attend Granite Falls Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 647 students attended Granite Falls Elementary.

Is Granite Falls Elementary a good school?

Granite Falls Elementary ranks 399^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Granite Falls Elementary in?

Caldwell County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Granite Falls Elementary?

Students at Granite Falls Elementary are 78% White, 13% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Asian.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.