Top Rankings
Hickory City Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 1,225 students in Hickory City Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Hickory City Schools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Hickory City School have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
3,735 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
211 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Hickory City 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 86% has decreased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#161 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)52%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85%
86%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)29.2%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.75
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
5%
4%
% Hispanic
26%
21%
% Black
20%
25%
% White
37%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,214 is higher than the state median of $11,170. The school district revenue/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,119 is less than the state median of $11,594. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$42 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$42 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,214
$11,170
Spending / Student
$11,119
$11,594
Best Hickory City Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Gr: 9-12 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #22.
Hickory High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1234 3rd Street Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Gr: 9-12 | 1,024 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
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