Hickory: Schools & Education
17 public schools serve Hickory. Saint Stephens High is the largest at 1,265 students (grades 9-12). Total enrollment: 8,725 students.
- ~2,603 residents per school (vs North Carolina ~592).
K-12 Schools
17 K-12 schools serving the area — about 2,603 residents per school. 37.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. average ~35%).
Schools (6)
ST STEPHEN LUTHERAN SCHOOL
2304 SPRINGS RD NE
HICKORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
3260 6TH ST DR NW
JOHNSTON WH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
174 23RD ST NW
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
231 3RD AVE NE
UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
629 8TH ST NE
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1225 29TH AVE DR NE
Schools (17)
Harry M Arndt Middle
7-8 · 631 students · 3350 34th Street Drive NE, Hickory NC 28601 · (828)256-9545
Saint Stephens High
9-12 · 1,265 students · 3205 34th Street Drive NE, Hickory NC 28601 · (828)256-9841
Northview Middle
6-8 · 480 students · 302 28th Avenue NE, Hickory NC 28601 · (828)327-6300
Grandview Middle
6-8 · 400 students · 451 Catawba Valley Boulevard, Hickory NC 28602 · (828)328-2289
Hickory High
9-12 · 1,014 students · 1234 3rd Street NE, Hickory NC 28601 · (828)322-5860
Oakwood Elementary
-1-5 · 341 students · 366 4th Street NW, Hickory NC 28601 · (828)322-1340
Southwest Primary
-1-2 · 304 students · 1580 32nd Street SW, Hickory NC 28602 · (828)324-8884
| Daycare Preschool · Total count | 1 |
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| School Districts · Districts | Burke County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools |
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| School Districts · Total count | 3 |
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| School Statistics · Total Schools | 17 |
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| School Statistics · Total Enrollment | 8,725 |
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| School Statistics · Total Teachers | 549 |
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| School Statistics · Student Teacher Ratio | 15.90 |
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| School Statistics · Free Lunch Students | 5,503 |
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| School Statistics · Free Lunch Pct | 63.1% |
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| Schools Count | 17 |
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Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · NCES LEA assignment from schools in this city · NCES CCD 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Higher Education
Colleges and universities within commuting range, plus IPEDS scorecard data on enrollment, completion, and net price.
Schools (2)
Catawba Valley Community College
2,741 students
Lenoir-Rhyne University
1,359 students
Colleges (2)
Catawba Valley Community College
2550 Hwy 70 SE · 8283277000
Lenoir-Rhyne University
625 7th Avenue NE · 8283281741
| Nearest College · Name | Western Piedmont Community College |
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| Nearest College · City | Morganton |
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| Nearest College · Phone | (828) 448-3500 |
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| Nearest College · Distance | 7.3 mi |
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Sources: NCES IPEDS 2022 — nearest by coordinates within 50 miles
Early Childhood
Daycare and preschool capacity. Federal child-care data is sparse — counts reflect state-licensed providers only.
Facilities (15)
CATAWBA RIDGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1635 20TH AVENUE DRIVE N E · CENTER BASED
CHILDREN'S ACADEMY I
411 10TH AVE DRIVE N E · CENTER BASED
COMMUNITY RIDGE DAY CARE CENTER INC.
243 7TH AVENUE S W · CENTER BASED
FOOTSTEPS CHILD CARE CENTER LLC
5122 FLEETWOOD DRIVE · CENTER BASED
GRACE COVENANT PRESCHOOL
3710 NORTH CENTER STREET · RELIGIOUS FACILITY
HICKORY FOUNDATION YMCA CHILD DEV. CTR.
701 1ST ST NW · CENTER BASED
HICKORY HIGH SCHOOL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1234 3RD STREET N E · SCHOOL BASED
HICKORY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
925 5TH STREET NE · SCHOOL BASED
JENKINS ELEMENTARY KID CONNECTION
3750 NORTH CENTER STREET · SCHOOL BASED
LEGRANDE LEARNING CENTER
3720 NORTH CENTER STREET · CENTER BASED
LITTLE FOLKS SCHOOL EAST
410 21ST ST S E · CENTER BASED
LITTLE STARS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
2210 18TH AVENUE NE · CENTER BASED
LONGVIEW ELEMENTARY KID CONNECTION
737 12TH STREET SW · SCHOOL BASED
LONGVIEW HEAD START
737 12TH ST SW · HEAD START
MT BETHEL UMC CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
9042 NC HWY 127 NORTH · RELIGIOUS FACILITY
Libraries
Public libraries from IMLS Public Libraries Survey — visits, circulation, and service-area population.
| Nearest Library · Name | Patrick Beaver Memorial Library |
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| Nearest Library · Address | 375 3Rd St Ne |
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| Nearest Library · Phone | (828) 304-0500 |
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| Nearest Library · Zip | 28601 |
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| Nearest Library · Hours Per Year | 3120 |
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| Nearest Library · Total Libraries In City | 5 |
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Sources: IMLS PLS — state+city name match
Other
Libraries (5)
BETHLEHEM BRANCH LIBRARY
8284958753 · 45 RINK DAM RD, Hickory NC 28601
ST. STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY
8284666821 · 3225 SPRINGS RD, Hickory NC 28601
SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY
8284666818 · 2944 S NC 127 HWY, Hickory NC 28602
PATRICK BEAVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
8283040500 · 375 3RD ST NE, Hickory NC 28601
RIDGEVIEW BRANCH LIBRARY
8283456037 · 706 1ST ST SW, Hickory NC 28602
| Education Nonprofits · Total count | 33 |
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| Mentoring Orgs · Total count | 2 |
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| Pct Bachelors Plus | 37.1% |
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| Scholarship Funds · Total count | 2 |
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Sources: IRS BMF NTEE B · IRS BMF keyword · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Read Next
Demographics & People
Population, age, language breakdown, and household data.
Economy & Jobs
Median income, employment, commute, and major employers.
Housing & Real Estate
Median home value, ownership rate, build-year mix.
Healthcare & Safety
Hospitals, clinics, fire, police, EMS coverage.
