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STEM Early High

Q: Is STEM Early High a good school?

STEM Early High ranks 211 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

211^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 73% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

STEM Early High is a public middle school in Henderson, North Carolina, serving 281 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of Vance County Schools, a district ranked in the bottom 14th percentile statewide. Despite nearly all students (98.9%) qualifying for free or reduced lunch, STEM Early High earned 4 stars and ranked 211th out of 778 North Carolina middle schools in 2025-2026, placing it in the 73rd percentile. The school exceeds the state average on six of seven EOG tests, with especially strong results in reading and science.

What makes this school stand out is how it compares with nearby middle schools serving similar communities. Vance County Middle School, just over two miles away with a nearly identical free-lunch rate, sits in the 5th percentile statewide, a difference of about 40 points in average EOG proficiency, and has a chronic absenteeism rate (60.9%) more than twice that of STEM Early High (29.7%). Franklinton Middle, in Franklin County Schools, is the next-closest comparator and still trails by 15 percentage points in average proficiency.

STEM Early High also posts unusually strong results for economically disadvantaged, African American, and Hispanic students, with those groups ranking in the 87th to 91st percentile statewide. The school does this while spending roughly $1,800 to $5,300 less per student than nearby middle schools. A few areas are worth watching: the gifted and talented subgroup has ranked in the low single digits statewide in recent years, 6th-grade math dipped below the state average in 2025-2026, and chronic absenteeism has risen from 19% to 29.7% in two years. Even so, this high-poverty school is a regional standout, though its slip from the 95th percentile in 2018-2019 to the 73rd percentile today suggests it should not be taken for granted.

281

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

219 Charles Street
Henderson, NC 27536

(252) 738-2260

District: Vance County Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.7%

Hispanic:

31.0%

White:

15.7%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare STEM Early High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 92nd percentile in 2016 → 73rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (66% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg37%

North Carolina avg58%

211^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 27%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 8% (2016) to top 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

212^th of 246Vance 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
2026	69.6	211 of 778	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	75.5	164 of 773	78.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	128 of 793	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	83.1	109 of 784	86.1%	★★★★☆
2022	86.5	87 of 786	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	82.4	106 of 741	85.7%	★★★★☆
2019	91.8	37 of 737	95.0%	★★★★★
2018	78.7	124 of 691	82.1%	★★★★☆
2017	79.1	122 of 694	82.4%	★★★★☆
2016	88.4	52 of 692	92.5%	★★★★★
2015	77.5	137 of 705	80.6%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.6	70 of 553	87.3%	★★★★☆
2025	79.9	66 of 546	87.9%	★★★★☆
2024	86.6	48 of 560	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	89.3	36 of 559	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	93.2	30 of 550	94.5%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	21 of 533	96.1%	★★★★★
2019	98.0	6 of 519	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.1	23 of 494	95.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.4	244 of 731	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.9	184 of 733	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	74.6	159 of 738	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	79.4	133 of 731	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	80.2	129 of 733	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	75.8	148 of 706	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.5	53 of 684	92.3%	★★★★★
2018	70.5	188 of 656	71.3%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	444 of 465	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.8	453 of 458	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	44.2	343 of 461	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.0	338 of 452	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	59.4	206 of 450	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.0	417 of 448	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	43.9	320 of 416	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	54.9	64 of 127	49.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	80.7	68 of 566	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	89.5	35 of 562	93.8%	★★★★★
2024	94.0	25 of 564	95.6%	★★★★★
2023	96.3	15 of 553	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	96.3	10 of 541	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	94.2	16 of 522	96.9%	★★★★★
2019	98.8	4 of 493	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.4	10 of 472	97.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	62 of 725	91.4%	★★★★★
2025	90.9	34 of 729	95.3%	★★★★★
2024	92.8	28 of 743	96.2%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	25 of 735	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	19 of 689	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	13 of 633	97.9%	★★★★★
2019	95.1	11 of 639	98.3%	★★★★★
2018	94.4	12 of 604	98.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.0	158 of 736	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	137 of 733	81.3%	★★★★☆
2024	82.8	97 of 751	87.1%	★★★★☆
2023	83.6	103 of 747	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	90.3	57 of 748	92.4%	★★★★★
2021	86.0	73 of 711	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	93.1	32 of 697	95.4%	★★★★★
2018	81.7	87 of 665	86.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.4	159 of 644	75.3%	★★★★☆
2025	74.4	150 of 649	76.9%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	106 of 656	83.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.4	128 of 632	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	80.3	104 of 624	83.3%	★★★★☆
2018	61.0	225 of 596	62.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)88th percentile+15 vs school

African American (2026)87th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)79th percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)75th percentile~ school

Female (2026)67th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)5th percentile-68 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science78%+10 vs state

Reading67%+11 vs state

Mathematics61%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near STEM Early High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
STEM Early High	Public	6-8	219 Charles Street	Henderson	27536	Vance County	Vance County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 738-2260	281	17	16.6	—	44 (15.7%)	134 (47.7%)	87 (31.0%)	7 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.8%)	69.6	211^th of 778 public middle schools	72.9%		75.5	164^th of 773 public middle schools	78.8%	47	51.4	68.3	63.8	55.2	73.1	73.2	78.4	$7,944	$592	$7,352
Vance County Middle School	Public	6-8	293 Warrenton Road	Henderson	27536	Vance County	Vance County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 492-6041	755	48	15.8	—	46 (6.1%)	532 (70.5%)	144 (19.1%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.7%)	6.1	741^st of 778 public middle schools	4.8%		7.9	731^st of 773 public middle schools	5.4%	10	16.5	18.8	26.5	18.1	28.6	30.7	42.9	$10,199	$1,633	$8,566
Northern Granville Middle	Public	6-8	3144 Webb School Rd	Oxford	27565	Granville County	Granville County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 693-1483	495	27	18.5	94.7%	91 (18.4%)	273 (55.2%)	103 (20.8%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	11.9	705^th of 778 public middle schools	9.4%		11.7	709^th of 773 public middle schools	8.3%	4	36.6	32.5	32.5	26.7	33.3	33.8	46.4	$9,718	$942	$8,776
Warren County Middle	Public	6-8	118 Campus Drive	Warrenton	27589	Warren County	Warren County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 257-3751	342	24	14.1	—	21 (6.1%)	244 (71.3%)	28 (8.2%)	4 (1.2%)	16 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.5%)	3.8	757^th of 778 public middle schools	2.7%		9.6	722^nd of 773 public middle schools	6.6%	35	8.9	19.5	15.0	19.0	29.9	22.1	40.4	$13,208	$1,354	$11,854
Franklinton Middle	Public	6-8	3 N Main St	Franklinton	27525	Franklin County	Franklin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 494-2971	232	19	12.4	—	57 (24.6%)	98 (42.2%)	45 (19.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	29 (12.5%)	39	486^th of 778 public middle schools	37.5%		38.5	479^th of 773 public middle schools	38.0%	7	51.4	48.2	54.1	47.3	47.1	46.6	63.5	$12,515	$1,448	$11,066
Terrell Lane Middle	Public	6-8	101 Terrell Lane	Louisburg	27549	Franklin County	Franklin County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 496-1855	403	23	17.3	—	123 (30.5%)	150 (37.2%)	100 (24.8%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.5%)	18.7	661^st of 778 public middle schools	15.0%		23.3	603^rd of 773 public middle schools	22.0%	58	46.0	27.4	31.2	41.3	40.6	43.3	45.7	$10,048	$1,080	$8,968
Granville Central Middle School	Public	6-8	2043 Sanders Road	Stem	27581	Granville County	Granville County Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(919) 528-5530	0			—															(n/a)	46.0	45.2	36.4	48.0	49.8	49.1	55.3

Frequently Asked Questions about STEM Early High

What is the racial makeup of STEM Early High?

Students at STEM Early High are 48% African American, 31% Hispanic, 16% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend STEM Early High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 281 students attended STEM Early High.

What district is STEM Early High in?

Vance County Schools

Is STEM Early High a good school?

STEM Early High ranks 211^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate STEM Early High!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.