Saint Stephens Elementary

Summary:

Saint Stephens Elementary is a public elementary school located in Conover, North Carolina, serving 698 students in grades K-6. The school is part of the Catawba County Schools district, which is ranked 71 out of 242 districts in the state.

Despite being part of a relatively high-performing district, Saint Stephens Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina elementary schools over the past 10 years, with significantly lower academic performance on state standardized tests compared to the district and state averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 39.4% of 3rd-grade students at Saint Stephens Elementary were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 65% for the Catawba County Schools district and 62.7% for the state. The school's diverse student population, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (36.96%) and African American (16.76%) students compared to nearby schools like Lyle Creek Elementary, Clyde Campbell Elementary, and Snow Creek Elementary, may require targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of these student groups.

Another notable characteristic of Saint Stephens Elementary is its exceptionally high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 77.65% to 99.58% over the past three school years. This is significantly higher than the nearby schools, which have free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 52.82% to 80.98%. The school's low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.7 to 14.4, may indicate its ability to provide more individualized attention to students, but the consistently low academic performance suggests that factors beyond just the student-teacher ratio, such as teacher quality, professional development, and school leadership, may be contributing to the school's challenges.


Detail:

Public K-6

 684 30th Street NE
       Conover, NC  28613


(828) 256-2570

District: Catawba County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1281st of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,685 Help


Students who attend Saint Stephens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Harry M Arndt Middle
High:    Saint Stephens High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.7 Help
Number of students:  698

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
37.0%
White:
31.2%
African American:
16.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  77.7% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Saint Stephens Elementary ranks worse than 85.1% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks last among 16 ranked elementary schools in the Catawba County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.19. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Saint Stephens Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Catawba County Schools District. Student population at Saint Stephens Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (37%), White (31.2%), African American (16.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 77.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Saint Stephens Elementary is 13.7, which is the 4th best among 16 elementary schools in the Catawba County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Saint Stephens Elementary employs 50.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Saint Stephens Elementary is $9,685, which is the 5th highest among 16 elementary schools in the Catawba County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Saint Stephens Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Saint Stephens Elementary 1281st of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Saint Stephens Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Catawba County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Catawba County Schools 71st of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Saint Stephens Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 62.59 488th 1276 61.8%
2007 59.04 563rd 1293 56.5%
2008 62.35 506th 1324 61.8%
2009 55.50 691st 1354 49.0%
2010 37.31 972nd 1363 28.7%
2011 29.46 1079th 1381 21.9%
2012 26.48 1133rd 1388 18.4%
2013 25.99 1097th 1403 21.8%
2014 20.66 1145th 1390 17.6%
2015 23.55 1171st 1440 18.7%
2016 14.01 1284th 1425 9.9%
2017 23.79 1173rd 1429 17.9%
2018 37.37 966th 1434 32.6%
2019 39.54 927th 1473 37.1%
2021 40.36 870th 1489 41.6%
2022 20.79 1255th 1514 17.1%
2023 15.33 1331st 1502 11.4%
2024 20.19 1281st 1505 14.9%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 10.84 147th 154 4.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.50 139th 421 67.0%
2019 52.58 182nd 497 63.4%
2021 49.79 132nd 385 65.7%
2022 18.04 464th 485 4.3%
2023 32.75 357th 514 30.5%
2024 32.54 385th 533 27.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 17.63 756th 801 5.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.47 739th 1332 44.5%
2019 44.28 810th 1361 40.5%
2021 46.55 662nd 1329 50.2%
2022 28.67 1059th 1366 22.5%
2023 22.74 1223rd 1437 14.9%
2024 21.45 1277th 1450 11.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.04 876th 1405 37.7%
2019 44.72 834th 1424 41.4%
2021 44.19 766th 1440 46.8%
2022 17.27 1303rd 1458 10.6%
2023 11.76 1366th 1459 6.4%
2024 19.21 1271st 1455 12.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.12 399th 897 55.5%
2019 36.55 582nd 878 33.7%
2021 29.47 490th 646 24.1%
2022 13.01 632nd 634 0.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.86 1007th 1413 28.7%
2019 36.34 1001st 1430 30.0%
2021 37.49 883rd 1444 38.9%
2022 25.91 1135th 1464 22.5%
2023 20.55 1222nd 1461 16.4%
2024 22.72 1205th 1464 17.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.19 75th 99 24.2%
2019 32.01 84th 106 20.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.37 518th 927 44.1%
2019 34.67 674th 949 29.0%
2021 61.05 234th 896 73.9%
2022 36.69 594th 927 35.9%
2023 24.40 769th 933 17.6%
2024 22.38 805th 924 12.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.56 564th 851 33.7%
2019 44.91 489th 865 43.5%
2021 59.42 265th 843 68.6%
2022 36.37 606th 893 32.1%
2023 28.14 711th 915 22.3%
2024 22.03 839th 951 11.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Saint Stephens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.25 827th 1178 29.8%
2019 43.84 714th 1183 39.6%
2021 23.46 972nd 1172 17.1%
2022 11.47 1142nd 1194 4.4%
2023 11.36 1127th 1183 4.7%
2024 27.67 931st 1166 20.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Saint Stephens Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Saint Stephens Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 536 34 10 0 0 n/a n/a 0 580
1989 504 35 15 1 1 n/a n/a 0 556
1990 551 31 13 1 1 n/a n/a 0 597
1991 564 31 15 4 1 n/a n/a 0 615
1992 572 30 19 7 0 n/a n/a 1 629
1993 575 25 20 2 0 n/a n/a 0 622
1994 563 25 34 9 1 n/a n/a 0 632
1995 621 50 49 9 0 n/a n/a 0 729
1996 621 50 49 9 0 n/a n/a 0 729
1997 624 70 54 16 0 n/a n/a 0 764
1998 557 60 61 21 1 n/a n/a 0 700
1999 597 66 55 38 1 n/a n/a 0 757
2000 569 82 58 52 1 n/a n/a 0 762
2001 540 98 59 71 1 n/a n/a 0 769
2002 487 108 55 138 2 n/a n/a 0 790
2003 487 108 55 138 2 n/a n/a 0 790
2004 473 110 52 142 5 n/a n/a 0 782
2005 382 137 61 140 1 n/a n/a 0 721
2006 372 137 55 159 0 n/a n/a 0 723
2007 405 82 44 196 0 n/a n/a 59 786
2008 373 69 57 196 0 n/a n/a 61 756
2009 369 120 56 198 0 n/a n/a 0 743
2010 314 141 53 245 1 n/a n/a 0 754
2011 266 104 50 263 0 0 26 0 709
2012 283 94 45 297 0 2 33 0 754
2013 244 93 55 294 0 2 34 0 722
2014 228 97 50 324 1 0 38 0 738
2015 234 115 46 325 1 0 35 0 756
2016 214 109 41 328 0 0 32 0 724
2017 210 111 41 317 0 0 40 0 719
2018 195 107 50 275 0 0 49 0 676
2019 193 96 44 282 0 0 44 0 659
2020 210 108 52 290 0 0 49 0 709
2021 221 100 44 274 0 0 53 0 692
2022 232 116 52 254 0 0 68 0 722
2023 218 117 47 258 0 0 58 0 698

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Saint Stephens Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 580 32.0 18.1 9.7
1989 556 44.0 12.6 15.1
1990 597 44.0 13.5 15.1
1991 615 43.0 14.3 14.6
1992 629 43.0 14.6 7.9
1993 622 35.0 17.8 9.5
1994 632 36.0 17.6 10
1995 729 39.0 18.7 14.7
1996 729 39.0 18.7 14.7
1997 764 40.0 19.1 15.6
1998 700 43.0 16.3 17.3
1999 757 43.0 17.6 24.2
2000 762 43.0 17.7 25.7
2001 769 46.0 16.7 26.4
2002 790 46.0 17.2 42.3
2003 790 46.0 17.2 42.3
2004 782 46.0 17.0 47.4
2005 721 46.0 15.7 55.9
2006 723 56.0 12.9 57.7
2007 786 n/a n/a 63.1
2008 756 52.7 14.3 64.9
2009 743 49.9 14.9 60
2010 754 47.9 15.7 75.2
2011 709 51.0 13.9 80.5
2012 754 53.2 14.1 81.6
2013 722 50.0 14.4 85.6
2014 738 48.5 15.2 83.7
2015 756 54.0 14.0 82.1
2016 724 49.0 14.7 83.8
2017 719 47.8 15.0 99.6
2018 676 44.9 15.0 99.1
2019 659 46.3 14.2 99.1
2020 709 51.3 13.8 99.6
2021 692 47.9 14.4 99.6
2022 722 50.8 14.1 99.6
2023 698 50.8 13.7 77.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Saint Stephens Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 580 32.0 18.1 9.7
1989 556 44.0 12.6 15.1
1990 597 44.0 13.5 15.1
1991 615 43.0 14.3 14.6
1992 629 43.0 14.6 7.9
1993 622 35.0 17.8 9.5
1994 632 36.0 17.6 10
1995 729 39.0 18.7 14.7
1996 729 39.0 18.7 14.7
1997 764 40.0 19.1 15.6
1998 700 43.0 16.3 17.3
1999 757 43.0 17.6 24.2
2000 762 43.0 17.7 25.7
2001 769 46.0 16.7 26.4
2002 790 46.0 17.2 42.3
2003 790 46.0 17.2 42.3
2004 782 46.0 17.0 47.4
2005 721 46.0 15.7 55.9
2006 723 56.0 12.9 57.7
2007 786 n/a n/a 63.1
2008 756 52.7 14.3 64.9
2009 743 49.9 14.9 60
2010 754 47.9 15.7 75.2
2011 709 51.0 13.9 80.5
2012 754 53.2 14.1 81.6
2013 722 50.0 14.4 85.6
2014 738 48.5 15.2 83.7
2015 756 54.0 14.0 82.1
2016 724 49.0 14.7 83.8
2017 719 47.8 15.0 99.6
2018 676 44.9 15.0 99.1
2019 659 46.3 14.2 99.1
2020 709 51.3 13.8 99.6
2021 692 47.9 14.4 99.6
2022 722 50.8 14.1 99.6
2023 698 50.8 13.7 77.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Saint Stephens Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,747 (18.0%) $7,938 (82.0%) $9,685

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Saint Stephens Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 927th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 1331st of 1502 Elementary schools
 25.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Saint Stephens Elementary)62.626.8
 35.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Catawba County Schools)63.665
 1.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Saint Stephens Elementary)46.515.2
 31.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (Catawba County Schools)54.142.5
 11.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Saint Stephens Elementary)56.832
 24.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Catawba County Schools)58.858.5
 0.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Saint Stephens Elementary)49.544
 5.5%
   4th Grade Reading (Catawba County Schools)59.255.9
 3.3%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Saint Stephens Elementary)57.329.3
 28%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Catawba County Schools)61.759.3
 2.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Saint Stephens Elementary)44.522.2
 22.3%
   5th Grade Reading (Catawba County Schools)58.747.3
 11.4%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Saint Stephens Elementary)69.139.4
 29.7%
   5th Grade Science (Catawba County Schools)80.368.8
 11.5%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Saint Stephens Elementary)50.546.5
 4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Catawba County Schools)67.564.7
 2.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Saint Stephens Elementary)51.537.2
 14.3%
   6th Grade Reading (Catawba County Schools)67.355.7
 11.6%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students659698
 5.9%
African American96117
 21.9%
American Indian00
Asian4447
 6.8%
Hispanic282258
 8.5%
Pacific Islander00
White193218
 13%
Two or More Races4458
 31.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.1%77.7%
 21.4%


Schools Near Saint Stephens Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Stephens Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 698 students attended Saint Stephens Elementary.

Students at Saint Stephens Elementary are 37% Hispanic, 31% White, 17% African American, 8% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

Students who attend Saint Stephens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Harry M Arndt Middle
High : Saint Stephens High

Saint Stephens Elementary ranks in the bottom 14.9% of North Carolina elementary schools.


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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.





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