Excellent
#153 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 6% in state
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
High School · Hickory City Schools · Hickory, NC
A Hickory City Schools high school where students score 33 points above what's typical for similar communities.
409 8th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601
- Math 80% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 78% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 52 points since 2019, reaching 79% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 48% (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 26 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.7%
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 Hickory Career Arts Magnet High 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 47Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,247/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hickory), 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
$67,839
Median home value
$236,100
Median rent
$951/mo
College educated
34.7%
Homeownership
68.1%
Poverty rate
12.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28601; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory HighEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 9–12 | 0.4 mi | 1,034 | Compare → |
| University Christian High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | 9–12 | 0.4 mi | 165 | Compare → |
| Cornerstone Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 2–12 | 0.5 mi | 22 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Hickory City Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #1 of 9
- District spending per student
- $11,662NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School is listed in Hickory City Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School is a public high school in Hickory, NC, part of Hickory City Schools, serving approximately 232 students in grades 9th-12th with a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #153 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
What grades does Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School serve?
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School?
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School has an enrollment of approximately 232 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School rank in NC?
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School ranks #153 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School a charter school?
No, Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School a Title I school?
No, Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School?
98.7% of students at Hickory Career Arts Magnet High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 232
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Catawba County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.2%
- Phone
- (828) 328-6738
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 28601)
- 52,839
- Area average commute
- 21.6 min
- Area median age
- 40.2
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 28601; 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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