Top Rankings
Caldwell County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 20 public elementary schools serving 7,338 students in Caldwell County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Caldwell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
25 Schools
2,146 Schools
# Students
10,597 Students
1,094,560 Students
# Teachers
610 Teachers
71,669 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Caldwell County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#175 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)47%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
81%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)29%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.46
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
Showing 2010–2023. Full 25-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
15%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
5%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
72%
42%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,070 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has declined by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,200 is less than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$139 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$140 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$13,070
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$13,200
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Caldwell County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Granite Falls Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
60 N Highland Avenue
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2222
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2222
Gr: PK-5 | 647 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #22.
Lower Creek Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
630 Lower Creek Drive Ne
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-4022
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-4022
Gr: PK-5 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #33.
Collettsville School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4690 Collettsville School Rd
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Gr: PK-8 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #44.
Granite Falls Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4 West Highland Ave
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2341
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2341
Gr: 6-8 | 518 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #55.
Hudson Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
291 Pine Mountain Road
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-4281
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-4281
Gr: 6-8 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #66.
Baton Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1400 Baton School Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 728-9531
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 728-9531
Gr: PK-5 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
Valmead Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
111 Elizabeth Drive Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-9612
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-9612
Gr: PK-5 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #88.
Hudson Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
200 Roy Coffey Drive
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-3712
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 728-3712
Gr: PK-5 | 665 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Happy Valley Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1350 Yadkin River Road
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-3496
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-3496
Gr: PK-8 | 234 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Kings Creek Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3680 Wilkesboro Boulevard
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6039
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6039
Gr: PK-8 | 153 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1111.
William Lenoir Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1366 Wildcat Trail
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3910
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3910
Gr: 6-8 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1212.
Gamewell Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3210 Gamewell School Road
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6204
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6204
Gr: 6-8 | 457 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1313.
Sawmills Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4436 Sawmills School Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2610
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-2610
Gr: PK-5 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1414.
Dudley Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-3457
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-3457
Gr: PK-5 | 433 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1515.
Davenport A+ School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
901 College Avenue Sw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6941
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 754-6941
Gr: PK-5 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1616.
Gamewell Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2904 Morganton Boulevard
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-1193
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-1193
Gr: PK-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1717.
Whitnel Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Berkley Street Sw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 728-6423
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 728-6423
Gr: PK-5 | 330 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1818.
Horizons Elementary School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
332 Greenhaven Dr. Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Gr: K-5 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1919.
Gateway School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1889 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Gr: 6-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
332 Greenhaven Dr Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Gr: 4-12 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 69:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
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