Catawba County Weighs School District Merger Amid Enrollment, Funding Challenges

Catawba County officials are proposing a merger of the three local school districts—Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools—to address rising enrollment in Catawba County Schools and declining numbers in the other two districts, aiming to manage resources more efficiently and save on capital costs. The merger is seen as a way to reduce expenses such as $2 million annually spent on mobile classrooms and to alleviate capacity challenges, with potential immediate capital cost savings estimated at nearly $62 million. However, the proposal has met resistance from parents and the Hickory and Newton-Conover school districts, who express concerns about losing the close-knit community atmosphere, increased costs related to consolidation, longer bus routes, and reduced local control. Newton-Conover officials also note their enrollment has stabilized, with anticipated growth due to new housing developments, suggesting alternative solutions to capacity issues. Public input is being sought through a series of community meetings hosted by the Catawba County Board of Commissioners to discuss the merger's implications. The community remains divided, with many parents preferring to maintain the current district structures despite ongoing financial and capacity challenges.