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Very Good

#596 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 23% in state

Snow Creek Elementary

Elementary School · Catawba County Schools

3238 Snow Creek Rd, Hickory, NC 28601

Enrollment

569

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#596 of 2,648

In Hickory

#5 of 17

public schools

In district

#5 of 27

Catawba County Schools

Academic growth

7.9 / 10

Very Good

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Snow Creek Elementary

7.7/10

Elementary School in Hickory · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Harry M Arndt Middle

4.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Saint Stephens High

4.8/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Snow Creek Elementary

Snow Creek Elementary is a public elementary school in Hickory, NC, part of Catawba County Schools. Snow Creek Elementary serves approximately 569 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Snow Creek Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #596 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Snow Creek Elementary show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.9 pts above district
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.8
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.5Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+5.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.4 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+2.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile63th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,487
Chronic Absenteeism16.7%

Snow Creek Elementary — Students at Snow Creek Elementary score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

57.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 63.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.0% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 57.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.6% (2025 NC)

Based on 38 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
86%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
85%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
76%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
53%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
55%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
50%
ELA
51%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
48%
2017
Math
55%
ELA
53%
2018
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2019
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2020*
Math
60%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
60%
ELA
55%
2022
Math
68.2%
ELA
58.3%
2025
Math
69.5%
ELA
55.1%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Snow Creek Elementary Compares

See how Snow Creek Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
78th percentile in NC
Academic
7.5/10
Very Good
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
57%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3238 Snow Creek Rd, Hickory, NC 28601

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Snow Creek Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Clyde Campbell Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is W M Jenkins Elementary (rated 6.9/10, 3.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Lyle Creek Elementary (rated 6.9/10, 4.4 miles away, in nearby Conover), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Hickory, see our Hickory schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Harry M Arndt Middle Hickory 0.4 mi 4.9
Saint Stephens High Hickory 0.6 mi 4.8
Clyde Campbell Elementary Hickory 1.1 mi 7.8
ST STEPHEN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Hickory 2.7 mi 4.7
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hickory 2.4 mi 5.9
Webb A Murray Elementary Hickory 3.0 mi 5.3
Saint Stephens Elementary Conover 3.3 mi 5.7
W M Jenkins Elementary Hickory 3.0 mi 6.9
Wittenburg Elementary Taylorsville 3.5 mi 6.5
Northview Middle Hickory 3.3 mi 5.8
Newton-Conover Middle Conover 4.2 mi 6.4
Bethlehem Elementary Taylorsville 4.6 mi 6.8
Hickory High Hickory 4.2 mi 4.5
UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Hickory 4.5 mi 6.3
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School Hickory 4.4 mi 8.7
Lyle Creek Elementary Conover 4.4 mi 6.9
NC BOYS ACADEMY Conover 4.6 mi
Viewmont Elementary Hickory 4.4 mi 3.6
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hickory 4.9 mi
Challenger Early College High Hickory 5.7 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28601 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,839

Median Home Value

$236,100

Median Rent

$951/mo

Population

52,839

College Educated

34.7%

Homeownership

68.1%

Avg Commute

21.6 min

Poverty Rate

12.7%

Median Age

40.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bain Elementary Mint Hill, NC 7.7
Balls Creek Elementary Newton, NC 7.7
Belvoir Elementary Greenville, NC 7.7
Bethel Elementary Midland, NC 7.7
Bethel Elementary Canton, NC 7.7
Bruce Drysdale Elementary Hendersonville, NC 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Snow Creek Elementary

What grades does Snow Creek Elementary serve?

Snow Creek Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Snow Creek Elementary?

Snow Creek Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 569 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Snow Creek Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Snow Creek Elementary is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Snow Creek Elementary rank in NC?

Snow Creek Elementary ranks #596 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Snow Creek Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Snow 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 Snow Creek Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Snow Creek Elementary has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Snow Creek Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Snow Creek Elementary a Title I school?

No, Snow Creek Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Snow Creek Elementary?

57.1% of students at Snow 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
9 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
569
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
57.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Catawba County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

District

Catawba County Schools
District Enrollment
15,880
Schools in District
28
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,487
District Rank
#5 of 27

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