Caldwell County Schools School District
School District · Lenoir, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
10,665
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
10,665
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#49 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,066
$1,046 vs North Carolina median
District size
10,665 students
Larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Caldwell County Schools ranks #49 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Caldwell County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 23 schools. Its top-rated schools are Dudley Shoals Elementary (8.0/10), Sawmills Elementary (7.9/10), and Whitnel Elementary (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.0/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Caldwell County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Caldwell County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Caldwell County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (23 of 24). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dudley Shoals Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Sawmills Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Whitnel Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Caldwell Early College | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Baton Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Hudson Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Happy Valley Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | South Caldwell High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Granite Falls Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 24 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Caldwell County Schools
Caldwell County Schools is a Lenoir, North Carolina school district serving 24 schools.The district educates 10,665 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. District-level spending was $12,066 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Caldwell County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Dudley Shoals Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.0/10.
In standardized testing, Caldwell County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 49.1% and ELA proficiency of 50.2%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Caldwell County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Caldwell County Schools with test data.
Schools in Caldwell County Schools
24 schoolsElementary Schools14
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Lenoir
- Total Enrollment
- 10,665
- Teachers (FTE)
- 740
- District spending per student
- $12,066NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Caldwell County Schools has 24 schools in total — 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Caldwell County Schools?
The average composite rating for Caldwell County Schools is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Caldwell County Schools?
Caldwell County Schools's district-level spending was $12,066 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Caldwell County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Caldwell County Schools is 14.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Caldwell County Schools?
Dudley Shoals Elementary is the highest-rated school in Caldwell County Schools with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What are the test scores in Caldwell County Schools?
Across schools in Caldwell County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 49.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 50.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Caldwell County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Caldwell County Schools has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 24 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 49.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 50.2%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Caldwell County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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