Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Caldwell County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
24
Schools
10,758
Students
$12,314
Per-Pupil Spend
-14% nat'l
65.7%
Free Lunch Rate
+14pp vs nat'l
88.3%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Caldwell County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 10,758 students across 24 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 4 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 88.3% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,314 is below the national average for a US public school district. 66% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (24)
Elementary Schools14 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Baton ElementaryPK–05368
Collettsville SchoolPK–08334
Davenport A+ SchoolPK–05464
Dudley Shoals ElementaryPK–05437
Gamewell ElementaryPK–05495
Granite Falls ElementaryPK–05582
Happy Valley ElementaryPK–08222
Horizons ElementaryKG–0522
Hudson ElementaryPK–05654
Kings Creek ElementaryPK–08156
Lower Creek ElementaryPK–05392
Sawmills ElementaryPK–05331
Valmead ElementaryPK–05287
Whitnel ElementaryPK–05300
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Gamewell Middle06–08506
Granite Falls Middle06–08537
Hudson Middle06–08581
William Lenoir Middle06–08509
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy09–12214
Caldwell Early College09–13396
Gateway School06–1258
Hibriten High09–12843
South Caldwell High09–121,317
West Caldwell High09–12753
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,314-14% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
57%
16%
State
57.4%
Local (property tax)
16.4%
Federal
26.1%

State funding accounts for 57% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
24
Schools
10,758
Students
66%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate88.3%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 24 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
66% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
26% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Caldwell County Schools has 24 public schools, serving a total of 10,758 students.
What is the graduation rate for Caldwell County Schools?
The graduation rate is 88.3%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Caldwell County Schools spend per student?
Caldwell County Schools spends $12,314 per pupil — 14% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Caldwell County Schools?
66% of students in Caldwell County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Caldwell County Schools?
No, Caldwell County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Caldwell County Schools serve?
Caldwell County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Caldwell County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Caldwell County Schools is 36/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.