Summary:
For zip code 28609 (Catawba, NC), there is exactly one public high school—Bandys High—which serves students in grades 9–12 and belongs to the Catawba County Schools district.
Bandys High is not only the sole high school in this area, but also a high-performing one. It enrolls roughly 935 students and consistently outperforms both its district and the state on every End-of-Course (EOC) subject. In 2025–2026, the school posted a strong 94.0% graduation rate, well ahead of the 91.8% district rate and 88.8% state average. Even more impressive, only 16.3% of its students are chronically absent compared to 18.0% for the district and 24.2% statewide. On state tests, the school demonstrates exceptional mathematics outcomes, with Math III proficiency at 83.0% versus 67.9% for the district and 68.9% for the state, and Math I proficiency at 60.2% versus a state average of just 42.1%. English II also showed a remarkable 10.7-point jump in proficiency year over year, rising to 73.8%, and Biology came in at 63.8%—both above all comparison averages.
This strong academic picture is even more notable given that about 40.5% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school still outperforms wealthier district and state peers. Bandys High has ranked near the 70th percentile of North Carolina high schools for three straight years, though its star rating dipped from 4 stars in 2024–2025 to 3 stars in 2025–2026—a shift driven more by a marginal ranking slip than any true decline in outcomes. With above-average proficiency across every subject, robust graduation rates, and comparatively low absenteeism, Bandys High serves as a reliable and effective anchor for families in zip code 28609, particularly for students who excel in or need support with mathematics.
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