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Best public schools in Hickory, NC

17 public schools in Hickory: 10 elementary · 3 middle · 4 high. Ranked by our score, based on 2025-26 state test results.

Rankings renumber to share equal ranks and fill gaps when schools are hidden. Scores compare each school with schools of the same type across North Carolina.

Elementary schools

10 schools in Hickory, best first
1
Oakwood Elementary 79.3
Hickory City Schools · Grades PK-5 · 326 students
ELA 67%Math 72%Science 77%
#260 of 1,256 in North Carolina
2
Mountain View Elementary 79.2
Catawba County Schools · Grades K-6 · 713 students
ELA 63%Math 77%Science 74%
#262 of 1,256 in North Carolina
3
Snow Creek Elementary 78.0
Catawba County Schools · Grades PK-6 · 569 students
ELA 62%Math 76%Science 76%
#277 of 1,256 in North Carolina
4
Clyde Campbell Elementary 73.7
Catawba County Schools · Grades PK-6 · 501 students
ELA 65%Math 72%Science 72%
#331 of 1,256 in North Carolina
5
Ray Childers Elementary 69.8
Burke County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 447 students
ELA 56%Math 72%Science 79%
#380 of 1,256 in North Carolina
6
W M Jenkins Elementary 50.7
Hickory City Schools · Grades K-5 · 261 students
ELA 52%Math 61%Science 70%
#620 of 1,256 in North Carolina
7
Longview Elementary 17.5
Hickory City Schools · Grades 3-5 · 313 students
ELA 43%Math 46%Science 52%
#1,037 of 1,256 in North Carolina
8
Webb A Murray Elementary 15.7
Catawba County Schools · Grades PK-6 · 384 students
ELA 41%Math 46%Science 53%
#1,059 of 1,256 in North Carolina
9
Viewmont Elementary 5.3
Hickory City Schools · Grades PK-5 · 489 students
ELA 36%Math 38%Science 36%
#1,190 of 1,256 in North Carolina
–
Southwest Primary —
Hickory City Schools · Grades PK-2 · 311 students
No published test results

Middle schools

3 schools in Hickory, best first
1
Harry M Arndt Middle 56.0
Catawba County Schools · Grades 7-8 · 628 students
ELA 54%Math 54%Science 72%
#203 of 460 in North Carolina
2
Northview Middle 43.2
Hickory City Schools · Grades 6-8 · 458 students
ELA 51%Math 51%Science 61%
#262 of 460 in North Carolina
3
Grandview Middle 22.4
Hickory City Schools · Grades 6-8 · 393 students
ELA 40%Math 43%Science 50%
#357 of 460 in North Carolina

High schools

4 schools in Hickory, best first
1
Challenger Early College High 98.7
Catawba County Schools · Grades 9-12 · 362 students
ELA 98%Math 98%Science 98%
#7 of 512 in North Carolina
2
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School 52.6
Hickory City Schools · Grades 9-12 · 232 students
ELA 65%Math 62%Science 60%
#243 of 512 in North Carolina
3
Saint Stephens High 47.4
Catawba County Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,298 students
ELA 62%Math 57%Science 65%
#270 of 512 in North Carolina
4
Hickory High 26.3
Hickory City Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,034 students
ELA 55%Math 46%Science 45%
#378 of 512 in North Carolina

School districts serving Hickory

Nearby cities and towns