Caldwell County Schools & Education
Caldwell County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,674
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#45
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Caldwell County
Measured School Summary
Caldwell County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 89.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,674 per pupil, Caldwell County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 7% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Caldwell County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
25 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
37/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #45 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
89.0%
1.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,674
$295 below the state average
School coverage
25
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Caldwell County has 25 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Caldwell County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Caldwell County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 24 of 25 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#45
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Caldwell County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
10,758 students
24 listed schools in this county slice.
Oak Hill Charter School
Elementary school only in this slice
188 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Caldwell County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 24 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Caldwell County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Caldwell County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Caldwell County, North Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Established Education in the Foothills
Caldwell County manages 25 public schools, including 15 elementary and 6 high schools, for a total of 10,946 students. These schools are primarily organized under 2 districts, providing stable coverage for the region. The infrastructure includes two alternative schools to support diverse learning paths.
Caldwell County Schools Leads the Way
Caldwell County Schools is the central district, overseeing 24 schools and 10,758 students. Oak Hill Charter School provides a smaller alternative with 188 students, representing the county's only charter option. This focused district structure ensures a unified educational strategy across the county.
A Balanced Mix of Rural and Suburban Schools
The county features an even split between rural and suburban settings, with 10 schools in each, plus 5 in city locales. South Caldwell High is the largest campus with 1,317 students, while the average school size is 438 students. This variety allows families to choose between larger comprehensive high schools and smaller neighborhood elementary campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
25
in Caldwell County
Reported Enrollment
10,946
25 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
4% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Caldwell County
Caldwell County Schools
GuideOak Hill Charter School
25 Public Schools in Caldwell County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 25 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High | Profile | Caldwell County Schools | Hudson, 28638Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,317 |
| Hibriten High | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 843 |
| West Caldwell High | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 753 |
| Hudson Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Hudson, 28638Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 654 |
| Granite Falls Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Granite Falls, 28630Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 582 |
| Hudson Middle | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Hudson, 28638Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 581 |
| Granite Falls Middle | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Granite Falls, 28630Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 537 |
| William Lenoir Middle | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 509 |
| Gamewell Middle | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 506 |
| Gamewell Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 495 |
| Davenport A+ School | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 464 |
| Dudley Shoals Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Granite Falls, 28630Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 437 |
| Caldwell Early College | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Hudson, 28638Suburb: Midsize | 9–UG | High | 396 |
| Lower Creek Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 392 |
| Baton Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Granite Falls, 28630Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 368 |
| Collettsville School | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Collettsville, 28611Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 334 |
| Sawmills Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Granite Falls, 28630Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 331 |
| Whitnel Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 300 |
| Valmead Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 287 |
| Happy Valley Elementary | Record | Caldwell County Schools | Lenoir, 28645Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 222 |
South Caldwell High
Caldwell County Schools
Hudson, 28638 / Suburb: Midsize
Hudson Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Hudson, 28638 / Suburb: Midsize
Granite Falls Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Granite Falls, 28630 / Suburb: Midsize
Granite Falls Middle
Caldwell County Schools
Granite Falls, 28630 / Suburb: Midsize
William Lenoir Middle
Caldwell County Schools
Lenoir, 28645 / Rural: Fringe
Gamewell Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Lenoir, 28645 / Suburb: Midsize
Dudley Shoals Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Granite Falls, 28630 / Rural: Fringe
Caldwell Early College
Caldwell County Schools
Hudson, 28638 / Suburb: Midsize
Lower Creek Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Lenoir, 28645 / City: Small
Baton Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Granite Falls, 28630 / Rural: Fringe
Collettsville School
Caldwell County Schools
Collettsville, 28611 / Rural: Fringe
Sawmills Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Granite Falls, 28630 / Suburb: Midsize
Happy Valley Elementary
Caldwell County Schools
Lenoir, 28645 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,674
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Caldwell County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Caldwell County?
What is the graduation rate in Caldwell County?
How much does Caldwell County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Caldwell County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County manages 25 public schools, including 15 elementary and 6 high schools, for a total of 10,946 students. These schools are primarily organized under 2 districts, providing stable coverage for the region. The infrastructure includes two alternative schools to support diverse learning paths.
What are the major school districts in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County Schools is the central district, overseeing 24 schools and 10,758 students. Oak Hill Charter School provides a smaller alternative with 188 students, representing the county's only charter option. This focused district structure ensures a unified educational strategy across the county.
What is the school experience like in Caldwell County?
The county features an even split between rural and suburban settings, with 10 schools in each, plus 5 in city locales. South Caldwell High is the largest campus with 1,317 students, while the average school size is 438 students. This variety allows families to choose between larger comprehensive high schools and smaller neighborhood elementary campuses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.