糖心原创

St. Stephens Lutheran School Photo

Best Catawba County Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private preschools serving 1,345 students in Catawba County, NC.
The top-ranked private preschools in Catawba County, NC include St. Stephens Lutheran School, Hickory Christian Academy, and Fairgrove KinderCare.
The average acceptance rate is 85%, which is higher than the North Carolina private preschool average acceptance rate of 80%.
56% of private preschools in Catawba County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA)).

Top-Ranked Catawba County Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Concordia Christian Day School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
215 5th Avenue SE
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-3011
Gr: PK-8 | 280 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Fairgrove KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
1031 Fairgrove Church SE
Conover, NC 28613
(704) 325-3041
Gr: NS-PK
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
Kinderkids At St. Luke's Umc Cdc
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
52 16th Avenue Nw
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-4010
Gr: NS | 92 students
Little Folks School East
Daycare / Preschool
410 21st Street Se
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 327-9983
Gr: NS-PK | 62 students
Montessori At Sandy Ford
Montessori School
2931 Sandy Ford Rd
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 294-7478
Gr: PK-8 | 63 students Avg. class size: 15 students
Mt. Olive Lutheran Child Devel
Daycare / Preschool (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA))
2780 N Center St
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-0120
Gr: PK-K | 100 students
Rainbow Child Care Center of Conover Rock Barn
Daycare / Preschool
401 Rockbarn Rd
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-6319
Gr: NS-PK

Overview

This County (Catawba County)
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,345 Students
96,967 Students
% Average Students of Color
8%
23%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
74 Teachers
9,124 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
57%
45%
Average Class Size
21 students
16 students
Average Number of AP Courses
3 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1168
(Out of 1600)
1207
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
25

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$6,792
$11,929
Average % on Financial Aid
13%
28%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,800
$4,823
Average Acceptance Rate
85%
80%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.47
0.59
# American Indian Students
n/a
412 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
20 Students
2,681 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%
# Hispanic Students
20 Students
3,227 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
3%
# Black Students
14 Students
5,754 Students
% Black Students
1%
6%
# White Students
800 Students
53,176 Students
% White Students
67%
56%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
421 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
337 Students
29,865 Students
% of Others Students
28%
31%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Catawba County, NC?
The top-ranked private preschools in Catawba County, NC include St. Stephens Lutheran School, Hickory Christian Academy, and Fairgrove KinderCare.
How many private preschools are located in Catawba County?
9 private preschools are located in Catawba County.
How diverse are private preschools in Catawba County?
Catawba County private preschools are approximately 8% minority students, which is lower than the North Carolina private school average of 23%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Catawba County?
56% of private preschools in Catawba County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA)).
Which private preschools in Catawba County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private preschools in Catawba County include: St. Stephens Lutheran School vs. Hickory Christian Academy

Recent Articles

糖心原创 Gap Years Before High School: Is It Worth It?
糖心原创 Gap Years Before High School: Is It Worth It?
Learn how private school gap years before high school work, who benefits most, and whether delaying ninth grade is worth the investment.
What Happens When a 糖心原创 Closes Mid-Year? A Parent Survival Guide
What Happens When a 糖心原创 Closes Mid-Year? A Parent Survival Guide
What parents should do if a private school closes mid-year, including records, tuition, transfers, college applications, and student support.
How 糖心原创s Support Students Building Online Personal Brands
How 糖心原创s Support Students Building Online Personal Brands
Discover how private schools help students build responsible online personal brands through digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and media education.