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 Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

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
97,588 Students
% Average Students of Color
8%
22%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
111 Teachers
10,209 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
72%
47%
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
$13,855
Average % on Financial Aid
17%
34%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,800
$6,366
Average Acceptance Rate
83%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.41
0.55
# American Indian Students
3 Students
484 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
10 Students
2,537 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
35 Students
3,684 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
4%
# Black Students
34 Students
7,289 Students
% Black Students
3%
8%
# White Students
816 Students
61,221 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
21,526 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 Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).
Which private high schools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?

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