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Catawba Rosenwald Education Center

Small School, Big Mission

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COMPASS Academy

2110 Main Avenue SE
Hickory, NC 28602
828-327-3689/Fax 828-327-0097


COMPASS Academy is a specialized program for students identified in the Exceptional Children’s program.  COMPASS serves students enrolled in the Catawba County School System. COMPASS began enrolling students at the beginning of the 2014-2105 school year. Our students are separated from their non-disabled peers all day on a separate campus.

  • We serve students who struggle with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities whether that stems from autism, ADHD, anxiety, mental health concerns, and other disabilities. 

  • COMPASS officially stands for: Children Overcoming Monumental Personal and Academic Stressors for Success. That’s a mouthful, so we like to think of it as a compass pointing us in the right direction geographically; the staff at COMPASS will do our best to teach and support your child to “head in the right direction academically, behaviorally, emotionally, and socially.”

  • To teach students replacement behaviors and coping strategies to enable them to learn and make progress. 

  • To support and teach students to become successful participants in their home, school, and community environments.

  • We are physically located on the campus of the Sweetwater Education Center at 2110 Main Ave., SE Hickory, NC 28602.