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Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

Q: Is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy a good school?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy ranks 137 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 218 students attended Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

Students at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy are 79% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

Public Grades 9-12

137^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 79% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is a small public high school in Hudson, North Carolina, serving 218 students in grades 9–12 within Caldwell County Schools. While the district itself ranks near the 34th percentile statewide, CASA stands out: it ranks 137th out of 662 North Carolina high schools, in the 79th percentile with a 4-star SchoolDigger rating. The school was elite a decade ago—as high as 16th in the state in 2016–2017—and has never fallen below the 78th percentile since detailed state rankings began.

CASA’s End-of-Course proficiency rates far surpass district and state averages in every tested subject. In 2025–2026, Biology reached 80% (district 53.2%, state 58.5%); English II 90% (63.8%, 64.6%); Math I 70.7% (35.4%, 42.1%); and Math III 82% (66.2%, 68.9%). The Math I gap is the most dramatic—roughly double the district rate. Nearby West Caldwell High scored just 21.5% in Math I and 34.4% in Biology the same year. Chronic absenteeism at CASA has also been remarkably low where reported: 6.8% in 2021–2022 versus a 40.2% district rate. About one-third of CASA students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, far less than West Caldwell High (98.7%), Hibriten High (98.7%), or South Caldwell High (99.1%).

Because enrollment profiles differ so much, direct comparisons with comprehensive high schools can mislead—which makes CASA’s subgroup results especially meaningful. Its low-income students rank at the 85th percentile statewide and male students at the 84th. Female students (69th) and gifted students—whose ranking swung from the 99th to the 45th percentile in one year—are worth watching in a school this small. CASA achieves all this while spending $8,388 per student, less than West Caldwell High ($11,229) or Hibriten High ($10,067). Located just a tenth of a mile away, Caldwell Early College ranks at the 85th percentile overall, and together the two schools make Hudson an unusual pocket of academic excellence in western North Carolina.

218

Students ?

21.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

33.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2857 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638

(828) 759-4640

District: Caldwell County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.4%

Hispanic:

11.5%

Two or more races:

5.5%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (82% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of North Carolina high schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school82%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg60%

137^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 5% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High 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	80.6	137 of 662	79.3%	★★★★☆
2025	84.4	113 of 641	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	80.9	130 of 640	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	78.3	138 of 626	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	80.7	126 of 621	79.7%	★★★★☆
2021	84.5	99 of 594	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	80.7	51 of 514	90.1%	★★★★★
2018	75.8	77 of 469	83.6%	★★★★☆
2017	90.6	16 of 476	96.6%	★★★★★
2016	83.6	24 of 507	95.3%	★★★★★
2015	74.6	62 of 531	88.3%	★★★★☆
2014	73.1	58 of 451	87.1%	★★★★☆
2013	52.3	134 of 505	73.5%	★★★★☆
2012	69.5	70 of 502	86.1%	★★★★☆
2011	60.4	181 of 506	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.8	158 of 499	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.9	115 of 490	76.5%	★★★★☆
2008	71.8	57 of 477	88.1%	★★★★☆
2007	57.7	167 of 453	63.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.6	198 of 629	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	78.4	131 of 610	78.5%	★★★★☆
2024	60.3	222 of 602	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.7	290 of 588	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.8	160 of 594	73.1%	★★★★☆
2021	77.3	58 of 475	87.8%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	41 of 475	91.4%	★★★★★
2018	81.6	53 of 449	88.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.0	223 of 407	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	81.8	6 of 412	98.5%	★★★★★
2024	75.0	74 of 403	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	79.2	63 of 403	84.4%	★★★★☆
2022	57.0	209 of 398	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.1	92 of 337	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.8	98 of 325	69.8%	★★★★☆
2018	47.4	59 of 100	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.4	96 of 620	84.5%	★★★★☆
2025	86.3	90 of 606	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	82.8	112 of 613	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	87.1	86 of 597	85.6%	★★★★☆
2022	94.8	46 of 544	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	92.3	12 of 432	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	87.8	17 of 446	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	86.8	24 of 424	94.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.2	100 of 624	84.0%	★★★★☆
2025	87.2	100 of 601	83.4%	★★★★☆
2024	89.9	83 of 607	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	89.4	84 of 602	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	102 of 585	82.6%	★★★★☆
2021	89.0	27 of 481	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	73.3	67 of 488	86.3%	★★★★☆
2018	66.8	109 of 463	76.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.1	138 of 551	75.0%	★★★★☆
2025	76.1	136 of 542	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.1	167 of 553	69.8%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	172 of 537	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.4	138 of 534	74.2%	★★★★☆
2021	77.1	52 of 439	88.2%	★★★★☆
2019	71.0	83 of 444	81.3%	★★★★☆
2018	64.0	133 of 427	68.9%	★★★☆☆

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)85th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)84th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)75th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)69th percentile-11 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)45th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English II90%+25 vs state

Math III82%+13 vs state

Biology80%+22 vs state

Math I71%+29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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	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 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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%)	80.6	137^th of 662 public high schools	79.3%		84.4	113^th of 641 public high schools	82.4%	24	80.0	90.0	70.7	82.0						$8,388	$210	$8,178
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%)	85.6	102^nd of 662 public high schools	84.6%		87.2	95^th of 641 public high schools	85.2%	7	94.9	96.3	60.3	89.4						$7,027	$517	$6,510
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%)	40.5	398^th of 662 public high schools	39.9%		51	288^th of 641 public high schools	55.1%	110	49.0	62.0	30.0	74.5						$9,486	$729	$8,757
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%)	41.2	395^th of 662 public high schools	40.3%		39	383^rd of 641 public high schools	40.2%	12	50.0	55.9	42.5	71.9						$10,067	$942	$9,125
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%)	14.8	584^th of 662 public high schools	11.8%		17.6	542^nd of 641 public high schools	15.4%	42	34.4	50.0	21.5	28.8						$11,229	$831	$10,398
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)			11.1	541.5	9.1	< 5%	45.5	10.5	26.3	$28,313	$1,830	$26,484
Draughn High School	Public	9-12	709 Lovelady Road NE	Valdese	28690	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 879-4200	661	24	27.3	98.2%	495 (74.9%)	13 (2.0%)	69 (10.4%)	43 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	36 (5.4%)	68.2	201^st of 662 public high schools	69.6%		59	235^th of 641 public high schools	63.3%	34	62.7	66.3	77.9	85.1						$9,112	$776	$8,336
East Burke High	Public	9-12	3695 East Burke Boulevard	Connelly Springs	28612	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 397-5541	874	38	23.1	99.4%	655 (74.9%)	16 (1.8%)	86 (9.8%)	71 (8.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (5.0%)	44.1	377^th of 662 public high schools	43.1%		56.3	254^th of 641 public high schools	60.4%	123	52.1	62.7	49.0	62.5						$9,240	$806	$8,435
Hallyburton Academy	Public	6-12	205 South Main Street	Drexel	28619	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 437-4184	73	9	8.4	95.9%	45 (61.6%)	5 (6.8%)	12 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	10 (13.7%)								(n/a)	18.8									$18,048	$1,530	$16,517
Hickory High	Public	9-12	1234 3rd Street NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 322-5860	1,024	38	26.6	99.7%	358 (35.0%)	196 (19.1%)	297 (29.0%)	47 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.6%)	120 (11.7%)	28.5	487^th of 662 public high schools	26.4%		26.1	486^th of 641 public high schools	24.2%	1	45.0	54.6	30.8	56.0						$8,704	$694	$8,010

Frequently Asked Questions about Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

How many students attend Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 218 students attended Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

Students at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy are 79% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy in?

Caldwell County Schools

Is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy a good school?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy ranks 137^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.