Very Good
#843 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 32% in state
Startown Elementary
Elementary School · Catawba County Schools · Newton, NC
A Catawba County Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 6th.
4119 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658
- Math 62% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 51% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Startown Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 21 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 56% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
59%
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 Startown Elementary 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 3Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,322/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newton), 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
$67,805
Median home value
$192,500
Median rent
$933/mo
College educated
19.3%
Homeownership
75.2%
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28658; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montessori at Sandy FordPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | PK–8 | 1.7 mi | 47 | Compare → |
| South Newton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | PK–5 | 2.6 mi | 326 | Compare → |
| Blackburn ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | K–6 | 3.8 mi | 488 | Compare → |
| North Newton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | K–5 | 4.1 mi | 389 | Compare → |
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.
Catawba County Schools
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #9 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
Startown Elementary is listed in Catawba County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Startown Elementary
Startown Elementary is a public elementary school in Newton, NC, part of Catawba County Schools, serving approximately 534 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #843 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Startown Elementary
What grades does Startown Elementary serve?
Startown Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Startown Elementary?
Startown Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 534 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Startown Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Startown Elementary is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Startown Elementary rank in NC?
Startown Elementary ranks #843 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Startown Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Startown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Startown Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Startown Elementary has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Startown Elementary a charter school?
No, Startown Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Startown Elementary a Title I school?
No, Startown Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Startown Elementary?
59.0% of students at Startown 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 534
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Catawba County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.0%
- Phone
- (828) 464-1257
- Area population (ZIP 28658)
- 25,681
- Area average commute
- 24.2 min
- Area median age
- 41.6
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 28658; 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
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Massachusetts 2026: Top Districts Statewidebest schools
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Charlotte, NC — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.