Very Good
#595 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 22% in state
Balls Creek Elementary
Elementary School · Catawba County Schools · Newton, NC
A Catawba County Schools elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2620 Balls Creek Road, Newton, NC 28658
- Math 75% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Balls Creek Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 64% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 38 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
61.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Balls Creek Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 24Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,322/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newton), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$67,805
Median home value
$192,500
Median rent
$933/mo
College educated
19.3%
Homeownership
75.2%
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28658; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles H Tuttle ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | K–6 | 3.2 mi | 384 | Compare → |
| Clyde Campbell ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–6 | Not available | 501 | Compare → |
| Maiden ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | PK–6 | Not available | 538 | Compare → |
| Mountain View ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | K–6 | Not available | 713 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Catawba County Schools
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #4 of 27
- District spending per student
- $11,487NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Balls Creek Elementary is listed in Catawba County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Balls Creek Elementary
Balls Creek Elementary is a public elementary school in Newton, NC, part of Catawba County Schools, serving approximately 698 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #595 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Balls Creek Elementary
What grades does Balls Creek Elementary serve?
Balls Creek Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Balls Creek Elementary?
Balls Creek Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 698 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Balls Creek Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Balls Creek Elementary is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Balls Creek Elementary rank in NC?
Balls Creek Elementary ranks #595 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Balls Creek Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Balls Creek Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Balls Creek Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Balls Creek Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Balls Creek Elementary a charter school?
No, Balls Creek Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Balls Creek Elementary a Title I school?
No, Balls Creek Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Balls Creek Elementary?
61.9% of students at Balls Creek Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 698
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Catawba County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.8%
- Phone
- (828) 464-4766
- Area population (ZIP 28658)
- 25,681
- Area average commute
- 24.2 min
- Area median age
- 41.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28658; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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