Choosing a School District

We just moved to Hickory and are trying to decide on a school for our kids, and I was impressed to see that the average commute to work in our new town is 24 minutes, which is even a bit lower than the state average. This makes me think that the schools here must be relatively convenient for most families. What advice can local parents offer about the Laurel School District and its schools, such as Laurel El Sch, that serve our area?