St. Stephens Lutheran School Photo

Best Hickory Private Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private elementary schools serving 1,210 students in Hickory, NC.
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Hickory, NC include St. Stephens Lutheran School, Hickory Christian Academy, and Tabernacle Christian School.
The average acceptance rate is 77%, which is lower than the North Carolina private elementary school average acceptance rate of 80%.
83% of private elementary schools in Hickory, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Hickory Private Elementary 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
St. Stephens Lutheran School
St. Stephens Lutheran School Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(3)
2304 Springs Rd NE
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-2166
Gr: PK-8 | 228 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition 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
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Special Education School (Christian)
231 3rd Ave. Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 781-2227
Gr: 2-12 | 20 students
Hickory Day School
Hickory Day School Photo - Mayor Rudy Wright came to speak about different types of government.
(2)
2535 21st Avenue NE
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9492
Gr: K-8 | 136 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Johnston Wh Elementary School
Johnston Wh Elementary School Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
174 23rd St NW
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-4005
Gr: K-8 | 19 students

Overview

This Town (Hickory)
This State (NC)
# Schools
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,210 Students
122,911 Students
% Average Students of Color
12%
24%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
106 Teachers
12,436 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
76%
46%
Average Class Size
19 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
3 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1168
(Out of 1600)
1206
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$7,632
$12,465
Average Summer Program Cost
$100
$772
Average % on Financial Aid
13%
30%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,400
$5,232
Average Acceptance Rate
77%
80%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.39
0.57
# American Indian Students
3 Students
613 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
11 Students
3,946 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
43 Students
5,316 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
4%
# Black Students
28 Students
9,204 Students
% Black Students
3%
8%
# White Students
828 Students
74,607 Students
% White Students
77%
61%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
476 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
168 Students
27,782 Students
% of Others Students
15%
23%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in Hickory, NC?
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Hickory, NC include St. Stephens Lutheran School, Hickory Christian Academy, and Tabernacle Christian School.
How many private elementary schools are located in Hickory?
6 private elementary schools are located in Hickory.
How diverse are private elementary schools in Hickory?
Hickory private elementary schools are approximately 12% minority students, which is lower than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Hickory?
83% of private elementary schools in Hickory are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private elementary schools in Hickory are often viewed compared to one another?

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