Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Catawba County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
28
Schools
15,678
Students
$12,509
Per-Pupil Spend
-13% nat'l
54.9%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
88.8%
Graduation Rate
+2.3pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Catawba County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 15,678 students across 28 schools. It includes 16 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 88.8% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,509 is below the national average for a US public school district. 55% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 35/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (28)
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Harry M Arndt Middle07–08631
Jacobs Fork Middle07–08440
Maiden Middle School07–08421
Mill Creek Middle07–08412
River Bend Middle07–08475
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bandys High09–12864
Bunker Hill High09–12828
Challenger Early College High09–12352
Fred T Foard High09–12956
Maiden High09–12870
Saint Stephens High09–121,265
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Catawba Rosenwald Education CenterKG–122
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,509-13% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
55%
22%
State
55.5%
Local (property tax)
22.3%
Federal
22.3%

State funding accounts for 55% 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
28
Schools
15,678
Students
55%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate88.8%
Opportunity Score35/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 28 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 35/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
22% 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 Catawba County Schools?
Catawba County Schools has 28 public schools, serving a total of 15,678 students.
What is the graduation rate for Catawba County Schools?
The graduation rate is 88.8%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Catawba County Schools spend per student?
Catawba County Schools spends $12,509 per pupil — 13% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Catawba County Schools?
55% of students in Catawba County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Catawba County Schools?
No, Catawba County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Catawba County Schools serve?
Catawba County Schools serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Catawba County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Catawba County Schools is 35/100. 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.