- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Hickory, NC
Harry M Arndt Middle
Federal NCES profile for Harry M Arndt Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370069000283
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harry M Arndt Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Hickory · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 53.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Harry M Arndt Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harry M Arndt Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Hickory, NC.
School address
District: Catawba County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370069000283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Harry M Arndt Middle held near 628 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 38.2 → 35.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 370069000283 · Hickory, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
601 enr · 15.8:1 · 53.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Saint Stephens High (1,268 students)
Harry M Arndt Middle held near 628 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 38.2 → 35.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Harry M Arndt Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Saint Stephens
Saint Stephens High
1,268 students
- Bandys High
Bandys High
935 students
- Fred T Foard H
Fred T Foard High
930 students
- Maiden High
Maiden High
852 students
- Bunker Hill Hi
Bunker Hill High
845 students
- This school
Harry M Arndt Middle
601 students
What this shows Harry M Arndt Middle reports 601 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harry M Arndt Middle compares
Harry M Arndt Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▼ 0% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.9% | ▼ 18% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 601 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
601
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 60% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,487
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 301 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
108
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 45.8%
Hispanic or Latino 33.9%
Two or More 8.3%
African American 7.3%
Asian 4.7%
Largest group: White at 45.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Harry M Arndt Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Catawba County Schools reports $11,487 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Harry M Arndt Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bandys High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fred T Foard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maiden High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harry M Arndt Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 930
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Hickory
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~601 students)
Frequently asked questions about Harry M Arndt Middle
How many students attend Harry M Arndt Middle?
Harry M Arndt Middle has 601 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Hickory, NC. CCD year-over-year: 631 (2022-23) → 628 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harry M Arndt Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Harry M Arndt Middle is 15.8:1, which is 0% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harry M Arndt Middle?
53.9% of students at Harry M Arndt Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harry M Arndt Middle?
The largest demographic group at Harry M Arndt Middle is White at 45.8% of enrollment, in Hickory, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harry M Arndt Middle?
Harry M Arndt Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Harry M Arndt Middle rank among middle schools in Hickory?
By Resource Investment Index, Harry M Arndt Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Hickory, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Hickory on the city page.
What other schools are in Catawba County Schools?
Besides Harry M Arndt Middle, Catawba County Schools also operates Saint Stephens High (1,268 students), Bandys High (935 students), and Fred T Foard High (930 students). See the Catawba County Schools district page for the complete list.