Catawba County News
Schools Community Conversations
Published: September 24, 2025
Catawba County is hosting four upcoming Schools Community Conversations to share information about countywide school facility needs and the choices currently faced by the community.
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners is chiefly responsible for funding public school facility construction. Through its ongoing partnership with local school leadership, the Board is committed to assuring optimized, balanced learning environments for all students across the county’s three public school systems.
Increasing student enrollment in Catawba County Schools has created a demand for more school classroom capacity, both now and over the long-term. At the same time, student enrollment declines in both Newton-Conover City Schools and Hickory City Schools, which have already led to significant under-utilization in existing school facilities, are projected to continue over the next decade. As a result of this student loss, both districts are expected to continue losing state operating funding at a rate that raises concerns regarding maintaining existing student services.
As the County came to recognize these factors, discussions began about how to maximize underutilized classroom and school facilities for the benefit of all students in the county. The County is required by state statute to fund all three systems on an equal per pupil basis, which is becoming increasingly problematic as the systems experience their own unique enrollment trends and associated funding implications. Driven by these dynamics, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners is evaluating the possibility of merging the three systems as a strategy to address school capacity needs.
Upcoming Meetings
To learn more, the public is invited to attend any one of four upcoming Schools Community Conversations. All four sessions will provide the same information from enrollment and school capacity studies conducted for each school system, as well as updates on school construction and other considerations related to the options available to the Commissioners. The sessions will also provide opportunities for community members to share their input.
Sessions will take place as follows:
October 21
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cornerstone Church
409 E Main St, Maiden
October 22
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hickory Metro Convention Center
Room - Catawba 3
1960 13th Ave Dr SE, Hickory
October 23
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Rehobeth United Methodist Church
9297 Sherrills Ford Rd, Terrell
October 28
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Conover Station Community Room (1st Floor)
409 4th St SE, Conover