Top Rankings
Catawba County Schools School District 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 2025 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 2,339 students in Catawba County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Catawba County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
28 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
15,880 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
1,007 Teachers
31,644 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Catawba County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 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 86% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#119 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)59%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.60
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
7%
4%
% Hispanic
19%
20%
% Black
6%
25%
% White
60%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,638 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,571 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$169 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$168 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,638
$11,187
Spending / Student
$10,571
$11,612
Best Catawba County Schools School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jacobs Fork Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3431 Plateau Road
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1827
Newton, NC 28658
(704) 462-1827
Gr: 7-8 | 443 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #22.
Mill Creek Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1041 Shiloh Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-1494
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-1494
Gr: 7-8 | 421 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #33.
Maiden Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
518 North C Avenue
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-2326
Maiden, NC 28650
(828) 428-2326
Gr: 7-8 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #44.
Harry M Arndt Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3350 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9545
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9545
Gr: 7-8 | 628 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #55.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4670 Oxford School Road
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-2754
Claremont, NC 28610
(828) 241-2754
Gr: 7-8 | 442 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #66.
Catawba Rosenwald Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
403 6th Ave Sw
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-2734
Catawba, NC 28609
(828) 241-2734
Gr: K-12
Recent Articles

Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.

When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?

When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.