Hickory City Schools

432 4th Avenue Sw
Hickory, NC 28602-2805
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

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 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 1,266 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 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
10 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
3,817 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
250 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Hickory City Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 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 91% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#161 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(21-22)
52%
51%
48%
50%
65%
63%
(21-22)
85%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
5%
4%
% Hispanic
27%
20%
% Black
20%
24%
% White
36%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,973 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,880 is less than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$42 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$42 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,973
$11,191
Spending / Student
$10,880
$11,616

Best Hickory City Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Gr: 9-12 | 232 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Hickory High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1234 3rd Street Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-5860
Gr: 9-12 | 1,034 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%

Recent Articles

How Public Schools Support Students on Free / Reduced-Lunch Programs
How Public Schools Support Students on Free / Reduced-Lunch Programs
Explore how U.S. public schools support students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch through nutrition, academic, and wraparound services in 2025.
Hidden Costs of Public Schools: Fees, Supplies & Extras
Hidden Costs of Public Schools: Fees, Supplies & Extras
Explore the hidden costs in public schools—fees, supplies, extracurriculars—and how parents can plan for them in 2025.
Public School Funding 2025: What Families Should Know
Public School Funding 2025: What Families Should Know
Essential insights on public school funding in 2025—how it works, what’s changing, and what families should know to stay ahead.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 10 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,817 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 64%
  • : 85% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 52% (Top 50%)
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 65% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links