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Average

#1138 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 43% in state

Catawba Elementary School

Elementary School · Catawba County Schools · Catawba, NC

A Catawba County Schools elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.

5415 Hudson Chapel Road, Catawba, NC 28609

  • Math 64% vs NC 59% (2025)
  • Reading 43% vs NC 53% (2025)
  • 14:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.0Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.61 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.1Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+0.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.6 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+7.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile58th
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14:1
District spending per student$11,487
Chronic Absenteeism22.3%

Students at Catawba Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency64%(2025 NC)
School
State
59%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency43%(2025 NC)
School
State
53%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 18 points since 2020, reaching 54% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
84%
ELA
69%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
63%
2011
Math
80%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
38%
2013
Math
41%
ELA
41%
2014
Math
38%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
33%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
34%
2017
Math
44%
ELA
43%
2018
Math
29%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
29%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
38%
ELA
34%
2021*
Math
38%
ELA
34%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
36%
2025
Math
64%
ELA
43%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 44% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

99.3%

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 Catawba Elementary School 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 15Car-Dependent
  • Bike 12Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$81,756

Median home value

$229,000

Median rent

$1,090/mo

College educated

17.2%

Homeownership

86.4%

Poverty rate

10.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28609; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

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
Claremont ElementaryEnrollment path unverified6.5PK–63.9 mi440Compare →
Sharon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified8.2PK–54.8 mi234Compare →
Balls Creek ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.7PK–6Not available698Compare →
Clyde Campbell ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.8PK–6Not available501Compare →

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
#11 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

Catawba Elementary School is listed in Catawba County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Catawba Elementary School

Catawba Elementary School is a public elementary school in Catawba, NC, part of Catawba County Schools, serving approximately 421 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,138 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Catawba Elementary School

What grades does Catawba Elementary School serve?

Catawba Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Catawba Elementary School?

Catawba Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 421 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Catawba Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Catawba Elementary School is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Catawba Elementary School rank in NC?

Catawba Elementary School ranks #1,138 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Catawba Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Catawba Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Catawba Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Catawba Elementary School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Catawba Elementary School a charter school?

No, Catawba Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Catawba Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Catawba Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Catawba Elementary School?

99.3% of students at Catawba Elementary School 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
421
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Catawba County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.3%
Area population (ZIP 28609)
6,617
Area average commute
35.2 min
Area median age
42.4
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 28609; 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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