Education
Education and technical training continue to be high priorities for Catawba County. This commitment is evidenced by the presence of three public school systems — Catawba County Schools, Hickory Public Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools — in addition to 12 private schools.
K-12 Public School Enrollment - 2020-2021 | ||
District | Schools | Enrollment |
Catawba County Schools | 28 | 15,189 |
Hickory City Schools | 9 | 3,740 |
Newton-Conover City Schools | 7 | 2,772 |
Source: NC Department of Public Instruction, NC Schools Report Card |
K-12 Non-Public School Enrollment - 2021-2022 | ||
Schools | Enrollment | |
Non-Public Schools | 12 | 894 |
Source: NC Dept. of Admin., Div. of Non-Public Educ., 2021-2022 Directory of Non-Public Schools |
Public Schools SAT Scores - 2021 | |||||
#Tested | %Tested | Math | ERW | Total | |
US | 1,251,753 | NA | 514 | 524 | 1038 |
NC | 21,416 | 21.3 | 572 | 575 | 1147 |
Catawba | 185 | 17.2 | 566 | 564 | 1130 |
Hickory | 58 | 25.3 | 546 | 556 | 1103 |
Newton- Conover |
40 | 18.2 | 537 | 552 | 1088 |
Source: NC Department of Public Instruction, 2021 SAT Performance by District & School |
Public Schools ACT Scores - 2020-2021 | |||||||
|
#Tested |
Composite
|
English Mean
|
Math Mean
|
Reading Mean
|
Science Mean
|
Met all 4
|
NC |
86,953 |
18.2 |
16.7
|
18.3
|
18.9
|
18.6
|
15.7% |
Catawba |
970 |
18.1 |
16.5
|
18.4
|
18.5
|
18.6
|
13.7% |
Hickory |
214 |
17.5 |
15.8
|
17.6
|
18.3
|
17.9
|
15.4 |
Newton-
|
188 |
18.8 |
17.4
|
18.7
|
19.4
|
19.1
|
16.5 |
Source: NC Department of Public Instruction, ACT Results |
Public School Post High School Intentions - 2021-2022 | ||||
|
Catawba |
Hickory |
Newton-
|
Total |
Public Sr. Institution |
234
|
63
|
39
|
336
|
Private Sr. Institution |
102
|
17
|
13
|
132
|
Community College |
403
|
87
|
95
|
585
|
Private Jr. College |
1
|
1 (0.4) |
- |
2
|
Trade Business School |
16
|
3 (1.2) |
1 (0.5) |
20
|
Military |
26
|
-
|
1 (0.5) |
30
|
Employment |
210
|
69
|
39
|
318
|
Other |
10
|
2 (0.8) |
4 (2.1) |
16
|
Totals |
1,002 |
245 |
192 |
1,439 |
Source: NC Department of Public Instruction, Statistical Profile for 2021-2022 |
Higher Education
Catawba County is home to Lenoir Rhyne University, a four-year liberal arts school and Catawba Valley Community College ranked #1 out of NC's 58 community colleges by Niche.com in 2017 and ranked #3 out of all community colleges in the nation for 2019 by SmartAsset. Catawba Valley Community College has established a Furniture Academy and a Manufacturing Academy.
Catawba Valley Community College's commitment to solving workforce needs for local industries is evident in the creation of these academies and its Workforce Solutions Complex. A culmination of many years of planning and collaboration with the three public school systems, this $23 million dollar, 86,000 square foot facility houses technology and engineering programs for college students, and junior & senior high school students from all schools in Catawba County. Business-driven programs include: Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Integrated Machining, Electronics Engineering Technology, Welding, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, and Robotics.
Additionally, the Appalachian State University Center at Hickory is a joint education center offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, non-credit certificate courses, research, and specialized workforce training through such universities as Appalachian State University, NC State University, and the University of North Carolina. The new NC Center for Engineering Technologies provides facilities for applied research in engineering related fields and serves as a conduit to baccalaureate education delivered by the University of North Carolina system schools.
Colleges & Universities within 50 miles of Catawba County
University of North Carolina Campuses (Fall 2021) | ||||
Institution | City | Total Enrollment | Distance | |
Appalachian State University (ASU) | Boone | 20,641 | 43 | |
UNC - Charlotte | Charlotte | 30,448 | 50 | |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator |
Community Colleges (2021-2022) | ||||
Institution | City | Curriculum Enrollment | Curriculum & Continuing Educ. |
Distance |
Caldwell CC & TI | Hudson | 3,543 | 9,434 | 11 |
Catawba Valley CC | Hickory | 4,429 | 12,798 | - |
Cleveland CC | Shelby | 2,463 | 9,736 | 44 |
Central Piedmont CC | Charlotte | 17,559 | 42,955 | 46 |
Gaston College | Dallas | 5,240 | 16,174 | 22 |
McDowell TCC | Marion | 1,191 | 4,837 | 46 |
Mitchell CC | Statesville | 3,276 | 8,982 | 17 |
Rowan-Cabarrus CC | Salisbury | 6,711 | 20,280 | 46 |
Western Piedmont CC | Morganton | 1,752 | 5,535 | 20 |
Source: NC Community College System, Dashboard |
Independant Colleges & Universities (Fall 2021) | ||||
Institution | City | Enrollment | Distance | |
Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | 1,517 | 33 | |
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | 557 | 43 | |
Catawba College | Salisbury | 1,207 | 43 | |
Davidson College | Davidson | 1,973 | 32 | |
Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | 3,441 | 40 | |
ASU Center at Hickory | Hickory | Seated - 105 | - | |
Online - 842 | - | |||
Johnson & Wales University | Charlotte | 1,262 | 45 | |
Johnson C. Smith University | Charlotte | 1,166 | 44 | |
Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | 873 | 40 | |
Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | 2,405 | - | |
Livingstone College | Salisbury | 890 | 46 | |
NC Ctr for Eng. Tech. | Hickory | 50 | - | |
Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | 2,063 | 47 | |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator |