Excellent
#288 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 11% in state
Catawba Heights Elementary
Elementary School · Gaston County Schools
101 Ivey Street, Belmont, NC 28012
Enrollment
253
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
253
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Belmont
#2 of 7
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#260 of 1,474
In district
#3 of 56
Gaston County Schools
School environment
8.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Catawba Heights Elementary
Catawba Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Belmont, NC, part of the Gaston County Schools. The school serves approximately 253 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 89.2th percentile among NC schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 56% proficiency in math, 4 points below the state average and 46% in reading/language arts, 6 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $81,057, where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
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Catawba Heights Elementary — Students at Catawba Heights Elementary score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
98.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.
How Catawba Heights Elementary Compares
See how Catawba Heights Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 62.5% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 37% (2019) to 51.7% (2025).
Location
101 Ivey Street, Belmont, NC 28012
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Catawba Heights Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. North Belmont Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is McAdenville Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby Mcadenville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Lowell Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Lowell), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Belmont, see our Belmont schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| North Belmont Elementary Belmont | 0.7 mi | 9.0 |
| Mount Holly Middle Mount Holly | 1.8 mi | 6.4 |
| Ida Rankin Elementary School Mount Holly | 1.9 mi | 7.8 |
| Belmont Central Elementary Belmont | 2.4 mi | 6.3 |
| Stuart W Cramer High Belmont | 2.4 mi | 5.1 |
| J B Page Primary School Belmont | 2.8 mi | 6.3 |
| McAdenville Elementary Mcadenville | 2.7 mi | 8.7 |
| Whitewater Middle Charlotte | 2.6 mi | 7.1 |
| Whitewater Academy Charlotte | 2.7 mi | 7.4 |
| South Point High Belmont | 3.6 mi | 7.1 |
| Lowell Elementary Lowell | 3.0 mi | 8.2 |
| CRAMERTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Cramerton | 3.2 mi | 6.4 |
| Belmont Middle Belmont | 3.8 mi | 5.5 |
| East Gaston High Mount Holly | 3.5 mi | 3.7 |
| GASTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gastonia | 3.8 mi | 5.0 |
| Pinewood Elementary Mount Holly | 4.3 mi | 7.8 |
| River Oaks Academy Charlotte | 4.1 mi | 4.0 |
| Holbrook Middle Lowell | 3.9 mi | 3.7 |
| Cramerton Middle Cramerton | 4.5 mi | 6.4 |
| Berryhill School Charlotte | 5.0 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28012 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$81,057
Median Home Value
$324,400
Median Rent
$1,288/mo
Population
26,519
College Educated
41.7%
Homeownership
68.5%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Median Age
38.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Catawba Heights Elementary has a median household income of $81,057. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $324,400, with a median rent of $1,288/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.5%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Banoak Elementary Vale, NC | 8.3 |
| Middlesex Elementary Middlesex, NC | 8.3 |
| Norwood Elementary Norwood, NC | 8.3 |
| Oakwood Elementary Hickory, NC | 8.3 |
| Perry W Harrison Elementary Pittsboro, NC | 8.3 |
| W G Pearson Elementary Durham, NC | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Catawba Heights Elementary
What grades does Catawba Heights Elementary serve?
Catawba Heights Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Catawba Heights Elementary?
Catawba Heights Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 253 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Catawba Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Catawba Heights Elementary is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Catawba Heights Elementary rank in NC?
Catawba Heights Elementary is ranked #288 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Catawba Heights Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Catawba Heights Elementary has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Catawba Heights Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Catawba Heights Elementary has 55.8% math proficiency and 46.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Catawba Heights Elementary a charter school?
No, Catawba Heights Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Catawba Heights Elementary a Title I school?
No, Catawba Heights Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Catawba Heights Elementary?
98.8% of students at Catawba Heights 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Belmont). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 253
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 98.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Gaston County
- Phone
- (704) 836-9119
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Gaston County Schools- District Enrollment
- 30,253
- Schools in District
- 56
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,190
- District Rank
- #3 of 56
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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