- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Hickory, NC
Saint Stephens High
Federal NCES profile for Saint Stephens High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370069000290
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Saint Stephens High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Hickory · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 48.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Saint Stephens High has class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Saint Stephens High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Hickory, NC.
School address
District: Catawba County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370069000290 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+33 students YoY
Saint Stephens High held near 1,298 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+33 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 68.3 → 67.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+33 students YoY 370069000290 · Hickory, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,268 enr · 18.6:1 · 48.5% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Bandys High (935 students)
Saint Stephens High held near 1,298 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+33 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 68.3 → 67.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Saint Stephens High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Saint Stephens
Saint Stephens Elementary
711 students
What this shows Saint Stephens High reports 1,268 students on the CCD universe file.
How Saint Stephens High compares
Saint Stephens 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.5% | ▼ 27% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,268 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,268
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 84% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
52.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 317 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
64
in-school suspensions + 118 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 44.2%
Hispanic or Latino 34.9%
African American 8.6%
Two or More 7.5%
Asian 4.9%
Largest group: White at 44.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.7, Saint Stephens High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
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 Saint Stephens High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandys High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fred T Foard High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Maiden High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Saint Stephens Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Saint Stephens High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~1,268 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Saint Stephens High
How many students attend Saint Stephens High?
Saint Stephens High has 1,268 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hickory, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,265 (2022-23) → 1,298 (2023-24), nearly flat (+33).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Saint Stephens High?
The student-teacher ratio at Saint Stephens High is 18.6:1, which is 18% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Saint Stephens High?
48.5% of students at Saint Stephens High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Saint Stephens High?
The largest demographic group at Saint Stephens High is White at 44.2% of enrollment, in Hickory, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Saint Stephens High?
Saint Stephens High has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Saint Stephens High rank among high schools in Hickory?
By Resource Investment Index, Saint Stephens High ranks #4 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 Saint Stephens High, Catawba County Schools also operates Bandys High (935 students), Fred T Foard High (930 students), and Maiden High (852 students). See the Catawba County Schools district page for the complete list.