B
Good
73/100

Ray Childers Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 1183 Cape Hickory Road, Hickory, NC 28601
Overall
B
73/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
B
0.3 grade levels below the U.S. average · 61st percentile in North Carolina
Growth
C+
Students gain 1.02 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 52nd percentile
Resources
B+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against North Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

73
Repit Score
out of 100
447
Students
enrolled
14.6:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$13K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%61/1000.3 grade levels below the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%52/100Students gain 1.02 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 0.83 in 2009–19; 66th percentile in North Carolina (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%81/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 99% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with North Carolina schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +21 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in North Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency39% (−7 pts vs. state avg 46%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
➗ Math proficiency40% (−2 pts vs. state avg 42%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the North Carolina state test (2020–21), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White47%42%reading -11 pts, math -16 pts27th percentile (list)
Hispanic25%25%reading -4 pts, math -5 pts30th percentile (list)
Low-income32%32%reading +4 pts, math +7 pts63rd percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 1183 Cape Hickory Road
City Hickory
ZIP Code 28601
District 3700480
NCES School ID 370048002431
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 28601

Understanding the community around Ray Childers Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $65,158
Per Capita Income $38,136
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Households Earning $100K+ 30.6%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.6%
High School or Higher 90.6%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $223,100
Median Rent $892
Owner-Occupied 65.4%
Renter-Occupied 34.6%
View full data for ZIP 28601 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 28601 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 28601 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Ray Childers Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 53.2%
Female 46.8%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 67.3%
Hispanic/Latino 12.1%
Asian 13.0%
Two or More Races 6.0%
Black 1.6%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 447
Teachers (FTE) 30.6
Student:Teacher Ratio 14.6:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Ray Childers Elementary?
Ray Childers Elementary has a Repit School Score of 73 out of 100, earning a grade of B. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Ray Childers Elementary?
Ray Childers Elementary has 447 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1.
What grades does Ray Childers Elementary serve?
Ray Childers Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Ray Childers Elementary receive per student?
Ray Childers Elementary receives $12,502 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is around the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Ray Childers Elementary in 28601 ▼
Avg Home Value
$309,762
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,421
1-Year Change
+4.2%
% Renters
34.6%

Other Schools in 28601

View all schools and real estate data for 28601 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026