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Schools in St. Stephens · Catawba County Schools

St. Stephens’s public schools outscore 60% of North Carolina districts

Math proficiency in St. Stephens’s districts is 59%, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving St. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#111of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
59%
▲ 8 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.8K
▼ 10% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.7
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
3,305 students on the public path
In brief

St. Stephens’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 336 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of St. Stephens’s, its schools beat 71%, higher than their 60% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 59% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,777 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Harry M Arndt Middle, then Saint Stephens High. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind St. Stephens’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 60% of North Carolina school districts, #111 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 60%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (336)Better than 71%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,848 test results and a graduating class of 1,283 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of St. Stephens’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,451 in math, 8,246 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve St. Stephens, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–63 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
7–8Harry M Arndt MiddleCatawba County SchoolsB
9–12Saint Stephens HighCatawba County SchoolsA−

St. Stephens’s public schools are run by Catawba County Schools, which also serves Catawba, Claremont, Conover and Hickory and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Catawba County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 28 schools · 16,003 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$11,777NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 49.9% · 8246 students tested
Math59%
State average 50.8% · 7451 students tested

St. Stephens vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share St. Stephens’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
St. StephensBCatawba County Schools
HickoryBHickory City Schools PK–12 · Catawba County Schools PK–12
ConoverBNewton-Conover City Schools PK–12 · Catawba County Schools PK–12

All 2 neighbors share Catawba County Schools with St. Stephens, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in St. Stephens

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in St. Stephensby address
Snow Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Hickory
A−
551 students15:1Rate it →
Clyde Campbell Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Hickory
A−
505 students16:1Rate it →
Webb A Murray Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Hickory
C+
380 students14:1Rate it →
Harry M Arndt Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Hickory
B
601 students17:1Rate it →
Saint Stephens High
High · Grades 9–12 · Hickory
A−
1,268 students22:1Rate it →

Questions about St. Stephens’s schools

Are St. Stephens’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools St. Stephens children attend outscore 60% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #111 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 71%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is St. Stephens in?

Catawba County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 16,003 students in 28 schools (2024–25).

Where do St. Stephens kids go to high school?

Saint Stephens High in Hickory, with 1,268 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is St. Stephens’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Catawba County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does St. Stephens spend per student?

$11,777 in Catawba County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What St. Stephens families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near St. Stephens → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.