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Excellent

#312 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 12% in state

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

High School · Caldwell County Schools · Hudson, NC

A Caldwell County Schools high school where students score 21 points above what's typical for similar communities.

2857 Hickory Boulevard, Hudson, NC 28638

  • Math 85% vs NC 56% (2025)
  • Reading 87% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • 90%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change+0.31 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency85.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency87.3% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+29.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+33.7 pts
Overall Proficiency86% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)65% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+21.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile93th
College Readiness9.5Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%+
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.3Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.9:1
District spending per student$12,066

Students at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency85%(2025 NC)
School
State
56%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency87%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Improving

Proficiency has improved 12 points since 2019, reaching 86% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
75%
ELA
65%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
95%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
35%
ELA
65%
2013
Math
65%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
65%
ELA
75%
2015
Math
72%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
5%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2020*
Math
75%
ELA
85%
2021*
Math
75%
ELA
85%
2025
Math
85%
ELA
87%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 78% (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 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

39.1%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy 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 39Car-Dependent
  • Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,356/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hudson), 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

$58,914

Median home value

$174,800

Median rent

$693/mo

College educated

19.4%

Homeownership

75.1%

Poverty rate

17.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28638; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Heritage Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition4.3privateK–120.2 mi204Compare →
South Caldwell HighEnrollment path unverified6.89–123.0 mi1,299Compare →
Hibriten HighEnrollment path unverified4.59–124.8 mi811Compare →
Gateway SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.26–12Not available62Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Caldwell County Schools

Schools in district
25
Rank in district
#1 of 23
District spending per student
$12,066NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
16.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is listed in Caldwell County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is a public high school in Hudson, NC, part of Caldwell County Schools, serving approximately 215 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #312 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy

What grades does Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy serve?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy has an enrollment of approximately 215 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy rank in NC?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy ranks #312 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy a charter school?

No, Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy a Title I school?

No, Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy?

39.1% of students at Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
215
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Caldwell County
4-Year Graduation
90%+
Area population (ZIP 28638)
11,629
Area average commute
23.3 min
Area median age
38.7
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 28638; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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