Proposed School Merger Plan information can be found HERE.

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  • Catawba County Government
  • Main Location:25 Government DrivePO Box 389 Newton, NC 28658

Schools

UPDATE: On September 3, 2026, the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) met to establish a timeline for their decision-making process regarding the proposed merger. The timeline is as follows:

  • October 5: deadline for the three School Districts to submit briefs to NCSBE
  • October 26: deadline for Catawba County to submit response brief to NCSBE
  • November 4-5: merger discussion during regular NCSBE monthly meeting
  • December 2-3: merger hearing, with each party presenting, questions from NCSBE members, and deliberation.

The State Board anticipates voting to approve or deny the proposed merger plan at the December 2026 meeting, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

Based on this timeline, if the merger is approved, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, December 8th to appoint the Catawba Valley Board of Education (CVBOE), which would begin planning for the July 1, 2028 effective date.

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