Hickory Public Schools (HPS) offers families more than a journey of excellence in education. The children who attend HPS, a district of educational service since 1903, experience life-changing opportunities, setting a course for achievement in higher education, the workforce or the military. HPS (registered as Hickory City Schools) serves approximately 4,000 students in Hickory, North Carolina and employs nearly 500 dedicated personnel. The district’s diverse enrollment represents 63.18 percent students of color with a global representation of approximately 30 different languages spoken in the homes of the students.