- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Hickory, NC
Challenger Early College High
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Early College High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370069002753
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 62
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Early College High earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 4
- high schools in Hickory · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 26.9:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 34.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Early College High has class sizes larger than 97% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Early College High ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Hickory, NC.
School address
District: Catawba County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370069002753 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Challenger Early College High held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 14.1 → 15.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 370069002753 · Hickory, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
376 enr · 26.9:1 · 34.4% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Saint Stephens High (1,268 students)
Challenger Early College High held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 14.1 → 15.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Challenger Early College High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Saint Stephens
Saint Stephens High
1,268 students
- Bandys High
Bandys High
935 students
- Fred T Foard H
Fred T Foard High
930 students
- Maiden High
Maiden High
852 students
- Bunker Hill Hi
Bunker Hill High
845 students
- This school 376
Challenger Early College High
376 students
What this shows Challenger Early College High reports 376 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Early College High compares
Challenger Early College High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.9:1 | ▲ 70% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.4% | ▼ 48% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
26.9:1
students per teacher
- 70% above state mean
Top 97% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
3.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$11,487
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 188 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 34.8%
Hispanic or Latino 32.4%
Asian 19.1%
Two or More 10.6%
African American 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 34.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.5, Challenger Early College High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Catawba County Schools reports $11,487 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger Early College High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bandys High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fred T Foard High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Maiden High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger Early College High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 930
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Hickory
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~376 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Early College High
How many students attend Challenger Early College High?
Challenger Early College High has 376 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hickory, NC. CCD year-over-year: 352 (2022-23) → 362 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Early College High?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Early College High is 26.9:1, which is 70% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 71% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenger Early College High?
34.4% of students at Challenger Early College High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Early College High?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Early College High is White at 34.8% of enrollment, in Hickory, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Early College High?
Challenger Early College High has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Challenger Early College High rank among high schools in Hickory?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Early College High ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Hickory, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Hickory on the city page.
What other schools are in Catawba County Schools?
Besides Challenger Early College High, Catawba County Schools also operates Saint Stephens High (1,268 students), Bandys High (935 students), and Fred T Foard High (930 students). See the Catawba County Schools district page for the complete list.