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Very Good

#843 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 32% in state

Startown Elementary

Elementary School · Catawba County Schools

4119 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658

Enrollment

534

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

7.2

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#843 of 2,648

In Newton

#4 of 9

public schools

In district

#9 of 27

Catawba County Schools

Academic growth

7.5 / 10

Very Good

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Startown Elementary

7.2/10

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

Montessori at Sandy Ford

4.2/10

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

South Newton Elementary

7.1/10

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

About Startown Elementary

Startown Elementary is a public elementary school in Newton, NC, part of Catawba County Schools. Startown Elementary serves approximately 534 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Startown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #843 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Startown Elementary show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.4 pts above district
  • This school 7.2 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.8
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.14 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62.1% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.7% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-1.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.1 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-2.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile50th
Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,487
Chronic Absenteeism18%

Startown Elementary — Students at Startown Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 63.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.0% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 51.8% (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
68%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
68%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
69%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
39%
2013
Math
55%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
55%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
49%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
53%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
48%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
48%
2020*
Math
63%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
63%
ELA
50%
2022
Math
56.3%
ELA
50.8%
2025
Math
62%
ELA
50.5%

* 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: 7.5/10.

How Startown Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.2/10
68th percentile in NC
Academic
6.6/10
Average
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
7.2/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
59%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.0%

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

4119 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Startown Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. North Newton Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Shuford Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 6.8 miles away, in nearby Conover), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Maiden Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Maiden), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Newton, see our Newton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.5 mi
School Distance Rating
MONTESSORI AT SANDY FORD Newton 1.7 mi 4.2
South Newton Elementary Newton 2.6 mi 7.1
Newton-Conover High Newton 3.7 mi 4.3
Discovery High School Newton 3.9 mi 7.9
Challenger Early College High Hickory 4.3 mi 7.3
North Newton Elementary Newton 4.1 mi 8.4
Blackburn Elementary Newton 3.8 mi 6.4
Maiden High Maiden 4.8 mi 4.8
Maiden Middle School Maiden 5.0 mi 6.4
Conover Special Education Conover 5.1 mi 5.0
CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL Conover 5.4 mi 5.2
Maiden Elementary Maiden 5.4 mi 7.6
Grandview Middle Hickory 5.6 mi 4.8
Saint Stephens Elementary Conover 6.5 mi 5.7
Webb A Murray Elementary Hickory 7.0 mi 5.3
Newton-Conover Middle Conover 6.9 mi 6.4
Fred T Foard High Newton 5.9 mi 5.7
Jacobs Fork Middle Newton 5.9 mi 6.6
Shuford Elementary Conover 6.8 mi 8.0
ST STEPHEN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Hickory 7.5 mi 4.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28658 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,805

Median Home Value

$192,500

Median Rent

$933/mo

Population

25,681

College Educated

19.3%

Homeownership

75.2%

Avg Commute

24.2 min

Poverty Rate

10.3%

Median Age

41.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Battleground Elementary Lincolnton, NC 7.2
Bostian Elementary China Grove, NC 7.2
Brentwood Elementary Raleigh, NC 7.2
Carver Elementary Mount Olive, NC 7.2
Coopers Elementary Elm City, NC 7.2
Eastern Elementary Washington, NC 7.2

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
3 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
534
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Catawba County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.0%

District

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

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