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 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public preschools serving 1,137 students in Hickory City Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Hickory City Schools have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,005 Schools
# Students
3,735 Students
477,346 Students
# Teachers
211 Teachers
32,717 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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#161 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

(21-22)
52%
51%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

48%
50%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

65%
63%
86%
86.5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
29.2%
28.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.73

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
5%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
26%
24%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
20%
25%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
37%
40%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,116 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,898 is less than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$49 MM
$20,622 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$48 MM
$21,575 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$13,116
$13,318

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$12,898
$13,934

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Hickory City Schools Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Oakwood Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
366 4th Street Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 322-1340
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #22.
Viewmont Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
21 16th Avenue Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-7049
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #33.
Southwest Primary
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1580 32nd Street Sw
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 324-8884
Gr: PK-2 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%

Recent Articles

When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
Learn what parents can do when public schools cancel essential courses, including protecting graduation credits, finding approved alternatives, requesting substitutions, and preventing disruptions to college or career plans before deadlines.
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Before buying a house, learn how to verify your child's assigned public school, check conflicting property listings, confirm enrollment eligibility, and avoid costly school assignment surprises before closing on a property.
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
Discover how long school bus commutes really take, why routes vary, and what parents should ask about pickup times, student fatigue, transportation reliability, and daily schedules before choosing schools.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,735 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 63%
  • : 86% (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