Schools

UPDATE: On April 20, 2026, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved the merger plan following a public hearing. The plan has been submitted to the North Carolina State Board of Education for review, as required by state law.

If approved, the next step will be the appointment of the Catawba Valley Board of Education (CVBOE), which will begin planning for the proposed July 1, 2028 transition.

Proposed School Merger Plan

About the Merger Plan
Sustained long-term student enrollment declines in both Newton-Conover City Schools and Hickory City Schools have led to significant underutilization of existing school facilities and continued declines in enrollment-based state funding. At the same time, enrollment growth in Catawba County Schools has increased the need for additional classroom capacity, both now and over the long term.

The Board of Commissioners approved the merger plan to help stabilize school funding, make more efficient use of existing school facilities, expand educational opportunities for students across the county, and reduce the long-term cost of meeting future classroom capacity needs.

The resources below provide additional information about the merger plan, the approval process, and the proposed transition timeline.

Supporting Materials

Current Information:
Board Approved School Merger Plan
School Merger FAQs (Updated 7/29/26)

Background Information:
Board of Commissioners Schools Community Meeting Presentation
Catawba County Schools Master Plan
Catawba County Schools - Newton Conover City Schools Merger Possibilities
Hickory City Schools Enrollment and Capacity