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Saint Stephens High

Q: Is Saint Stephens High a good school?

Saint Stephens High ranks 243 rd of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

243^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 62% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Saint Stephens High is a public high school in Hickory, North Carolina, serving 1,298 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Catawba County Schools district, which is ranked 82 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Saint Stephens High has consistently performed above the state average on end-of-course (EOC) exams, particularly in Math III (74.7% proficient in 2024-2025 vs. 66.4% statewide) and English II (58.1% proficient in 2024-2025 vs. 59.6% statewide). The school also maintains a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 86.2% to 90.9% over the past few years, on par with or slightly above the state and district averages. Additionally, Saint Stephens High has performed well in supporting its English Language Learner (ELL) students, ranking in the top 25% of North Carolina high schools for this subgroup in recent years.

When compared to nearby schools, Saint Stephens High stands out as a relatively strong performer, outperforming Bunker Hill High (another Catawba County school) on most academic metrics. However, the school faces some socioeconomic challenges, with a relatively high percentage of students (56.86% in 2023-2024) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this, Saint Stephens High has been able to maintain strong academic performance, suggesting effective strategies for supporting economically disadvantaged students. One area of potential concern is the performance of the school's special education students, who have consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of North Carolina high schools in this subgroup.

1,268

Students ?

22.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,502

Per pupil spending ?

99.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3205 34th Street Drive NE
Hickory, NC 28601-7702

(828) 256-9841

District: Catawba County Schools

Feeder schools for Saint Stephens High:

Elementary:	Clyde Campbell Elementary
	Saint Stephens Elementary
	Snow Creek Elementary
	Webb A Murray Elementary
Middle:	Harry M Arndt Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.2%

Hispanic:

34.9%

African American:

8.6%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Saint Stephens High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 47th percentile in 2022 → 62nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (59% vs 53% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 62nd (2025) from a 47th-percentile low (2022)

✓Above the North Carolina median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school59%

District avg59%

North Carolina avg53%

243^rd of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to top 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 6High Schools in the Catawba County Schools

82^nd of 242Catawba County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	58.0	243 of 641	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	297 of 640	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.9	309 of 626	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.5	329 of 621	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.5	234 of 594	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.7	170 of 514	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.6	205 of 469	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	39.4	252 of 476	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	45.1	195 of 507	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.9	159 of 531	70.1%	★★★★☆
2014	57.1	126 of 451	72.1%	★★★★☆
2013	52.8	130 of 505	74.3%	★★★★☆
2012	58.2	166 of 502	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	64.1	134 of 506	73.5%	★★★★☆
2010	69.4	87 of 499	82.6%	★★★★☆
2009	66.8	101 of 490	79.4%	★★★★☆
2008	59.1	160 of 477	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	74.2	41 of 453	90.9%	★★★★★
2006	68.1	85 of 431	80.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	61.8	115 of 440	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	41.7	222 of 437	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.6	179 of 434	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	205 of 430	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.0	114 of 364	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.4	111 of 369	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	46.5	149 of 359	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	80 of 106	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.7	73 of 101	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.3	70 of 98	28.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.2	64 of 91	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.9	57 of 89	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.8	44 of 77	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	28.0	237 of 330	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.4	156 of 334	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.9	241 of 364	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	84.2	31 of 349	91.1%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	68 of 273	75.1%	★★★★☆
2024	62.4	47 of 262	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	39.2	110 of 226	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.9	95 of 156	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.7	30 of 124	75.8%	★★★★☆
2019	53.0	55 of 173	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	24.0	119 of 147	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.2	278 of 610	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.2	320 of 602	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.1	316 of 588	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.7	321 of 594	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.8	205 of 475	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.4	205 of 475	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.3	241 of 449	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	65.4	148 of 403	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.7	177 of 403	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	245 of 398	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.1	149 of 337	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.0	142 of 325	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	57.3	153 of 462	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	194 of 454	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.6	287 of 449	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.3	309 of 436	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.5	207 of 370	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.7	170 of 354	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.9	206 of 340	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.1	211 of 606	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.1	248 of 613	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.5	305 of 597	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.8	284 of 544	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.3	147 of 432	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.4	183 of 446	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.9	156 of 424	63.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	204 of 601	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.4	261 of 607	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.4	290 of 602	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.2	315 of 585	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.5	115 of 481	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	57.7	146 of 488	70.1%	★★★★☆
2018	53.3	187 of 463	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	68.2	63 of 253	75.1%	★★★★☆
2024	54.9	109 of 261	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.9	130 of 249	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.5	68 of 226	69.9%	★★★★☆
2021	84.8	16 of 199	92.0%	★★★★★
2019	52.2	90 of 195	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.9	75 of 185	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	16.6	337 of 349	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	54.3	248 of 542	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.6	284 of 553	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.7	274 of 537	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.4	290 of 534	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	65.9	102 of 439	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	58.6	142 of 444	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.8	224 of 427	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Multi-racial (2025)75th percentile+13 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)75th percentile+13 vs school

African American (2025)74th percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2025)67th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)66th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)65th percentile+3 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2024)63rd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)54th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)54th percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2022)28th percentile-19 vs school

Asian (2025)25th percentile-38 vs school

Special Education (2024)3rd percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III75%+8 vs state

English II58%~ state avg

Math I52%+18 vs state

Biology52%+4 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a teacher on FaceBook
Monday, September 24, 2012

Saint Stephens High is currently ranked 8th in the state in NC. Our graduation rate is excellent as well as test scores. The most exemplary part of this is that we have the largest ESL and EC population in the area. We have at least a third of our teachers with advanced degrees and many with National Board Certification as well. Close Quote

Schools Near Saint Stephens High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)	EOG Reading (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Saint Stephens High	Public	9-12	3205 34th Street Drive NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 256-9841	1,268	57	22.0	99.8%	560 (44.2%)	109 (8.6%)	442 (34.9%)	62 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	95 (7.5%)	58	243^rd of 641 public high schools	62.1%		50.2	297^th of 640 public high schools	53.6%	54	52.3	58.1	52.4	74.7			$8,502	$740	$7,761
Hickory High	Public	9-12	1234 3rd Street NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 322-5860	1,024	38	26.6	99.7%	358 (35.0%)	196 (19.1%)	297 (29.0%)	47 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.6%)	120 (11.7%)	26.1	486^th of 641 public high schools	24.2%		37.8	390^th of 640 public high schools	39.1%	96	23.9	49.0	25.6	57.9			$8,704	$694	$8,010
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School	Public	9-12	409 8th Avenue NE	Hickory	28601	Catawba County	Hickory City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 328-6738	201	13	15.2	98.5%	107 (53.2%)	22 (10.9%)	45 (22.4%)	6 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (10.4%)	56.6	253^rd of 641 public high schools	60.5%		61.7	224^th of 640 public high schools	65.0%	29	47.4	78.4	22.2	80.4			$15,342	$1,043	$14,299
Challenger Early College High	Public	9-12	2550 Hwy 70 SE	Hickory	28602	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 485-2980	376	11	33.5	49.5%	131 (34.8%)	10 (2.7%)	122 (32.4%)	72 (19.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	40 (10.6%)	95.5	16^th of 641 public high schools	97.5%		95.6	21^st of 640 public high schools	96.7%	5	92.0	100.0	88.2	99.0			$6,093	$246	$5,847
Discovery High School	Public	9-12	301 West 18th St	Newton	28658	Catawba County	Newton Conover City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 466-5581	146	7	22.1	29.5%	85 (58.2%)	4 (2.7%)	28 (19.2%)	15 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (9.6%)	83	121^st of 641 public high schools	81.1%		79.8	134^th of 640 public high schools	79.1%	13	71.9	80.8	82.8	79.4			$7,999	$741	$7,259
Newton-Conover High	Public	9-12	338 W 15th Street	Newton	28658	Catawba County	Newton Conover City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 465-0920	724	44	16.5	60.5%	314 (43.4%)	71 (9.8%)	222 (30.7%)	46 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (9.8%)	28.9	466^th of 641 public high schools	27.3%		44	341^st of 640 public high schools	46.7%	125	34.6	48.5	39.9	42.5			$10,228	$626	$9,601
Gateway School	Public	6-12	1889 Dudley Shoals Road	Granite Falls	28630	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 396-8373	53	9	5.9	94.3%	33 (62.3%)	2 (3.8%)	9 (17.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (15.1%)								(n/a)			18.2		7.7	23.1	$28,313	$1,830	$26,484
Bunker Hill High	Public	9-12	4675 Oxford School Road	Claremont	28610	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 241-3355	845	40	21.1	99.6%	457 (54.1%)	69 (8.2%)	179 (21.2%)	86 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (6.4%)	30.3	441^st of 641 public high schools	31.2%		38.7	377^th of 640 public high schools	41.1%	64	40.5	43.6	24.7	59.4			$8,880	$745	$8,136
South Caldwell High	Public	9-12	7035 Spartan Drive	Hudson	28638	Caldwell County	Caldwell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 396-2188	1,272	67	19.0	99.1%	1,030 (81.0%)	25 (2.0%)	151 (11.9%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (4.6%)	51	288^th of 641 public high schools	55.1%		46.9	318^th of 640 public high schools	50.3%	30	40.5	62.7	35.7	79.0			$9,486	$729	$8,757
Alexander Early College	Public	9-12	345 Industrial Blvd	Taylorsville	28681	Alexander County	Alexander County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 632-8221	172	6	28.6	98.3%	122 (70.9%)	3 (1.7%)	34 (19.8%)	9 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.3%)	87.2	96^th of 641 public high schools	85.0%		86.3	106^th of 640 public high schools	83.4%	10	66.7	85.4	78.1	97.5			$6,455	$116	$6,339

Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Stephens High

How many students attend Saint Stephens High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,268 students attended Saint Stephens High.

What is the racial makeup of Saint Stephens High?

Students at Saint Stephens High are 44% White, 35% Hispanic, 9% African American, 7% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

What schools feed into Saint Stephens High?

Saint Stephens High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clyde Campbell Elementary
Elementary : Saint Stephens Elementary
Elementary : Snow Creek Elementary
Elementary : Webb A Murray Elementary
Middle : Harry M Arndt Middle

What district is Saint Stephens High in?

Catawba County Schools

Is Saint Stephens High a good school?

Saint Stephens High ranks 243^rd of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Saint Stephens High!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.