University Christian High School Photo - University Christian High School - North Campus

Best Catawba County Private High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private high schools serving 1,226 students in Catawba County, NC.
The top-ranked private high schools in Catawba County, NC include University Christian High School, Tabernacle Christian School, and Hickory Christian Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 83%, which is higher than the North Carolina private high school average acceptance rate of 82%.
100% of private high schools in Catawba County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Catawba County Private High Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Hickory Christian Academy
(Christian)
3260 6th St. Dr. NW
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-5405
Gr: PK-12 | 520 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Tabernacle Christian School
(Baptist)
(1)
1225 29th Avenue Dr NE
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-9936
Gr: K-12 | 287 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
University Christian High School
University Christian High School Photo - University Christian High School - North Campus
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(3)
602 7th Avenue NE
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 855-2995
Gr: 9-12 | 151 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition listed
Christian Family Academy
(Christian)
(1)
1409 NC-16
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 468-5974
Gr: K-12 | 237 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Special Education School (Christian)
231 3rd Ave. Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 781-2227
Gr: 2-12 | 20 students
Nc Boys Academy
All-boys (Christian)
6692 Valwood Rd
Conover, NC 28613
(540) 220-9482
Gr: 7-12 | 11 students

Overview

This County (Catawba County)
This State (NC)
# Schools
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,226 Students
97,922 Students
% Average Students of Color
8%
22%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
111 Teachers
10,224 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
72%
48%
Average Class Size
17 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
4 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1189
(Out of 1600)
1210
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$7,539
$13,882
Average % on Financial Aid
17%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,800
$6,244
Average Acceptance Rate
83%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.41
0.55
# American Indian Students
3 Students
484 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
10 Students
2,538 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
35 Students
3,690 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
4%
# Black Students
34 Students
7,293 Students
% Black Students
3%
7%
# White Students
816 Students
61,245 Students
% White Students
76%
63%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
432 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
186 Students
21,926 Students
% of Others Students
17%
22%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private high schools in Catawba County, NC?
The top-ranked private high schools in Catawba County, NC include University Christian High School, Tabernacle Christian School, and Hickory Christian Academy.
How many private high schools are located in Catawba County?
6 private high schools are located in Catawba County.
How diverse are private high schools in Catawba County?
Catawba County private high schools are approximately 8% minority students, which is lower than the North Carolina private school average of 22%.
What percentage of private high schools are religiously affiliated in Catawba County?
100% of private high schools in Catawba County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private high schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?

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