At a glance
Reported students
376
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
11.22
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
33.5:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
09–12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
North Carolina high enrollment
39th percentile
Compared with 617 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
522.5
Challenger Early College High: 376 reported students.
State peer staffing position
94th percentile
33.5:1 reported; state peer median 18.3:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 344
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Student–teacher ratio
- 24.6:1
What the reported data says about Challenger Early College High
Challenger Early College High is a public high school serving grades 09–12 in Hickory. It is one of 28 current school records connected to Catawba County Schools. NCES reports 376 students for 2024–25.
Among 617 high schools in North Carolina with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 623 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 39th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 33.5:1, above the North Carolina median of 18.3:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (34.8%) and Hispanic or Latino (32.4%). Students served under IDEA represent 0.3%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
The 2021–22 civil-rights collection reports AP student enrollment, gifted and talented programming, computer science. The school reported 1 AP course. Program availability changes, so families should confirm the current catalog and participation rules directly with the school.
Questions worth asking Challenger Early College High
- 1How do the reported 33.5:1 student–teacher ratio and 11.22 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Have the reported academic programs changed since the 2021–22 CRDC collection?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 2 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4What meal assistance, transportation, after-school, and family-support services are currently available?
Enrollment needs
- Students with disabilities
- 0.3%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 49.5%
- Lunch program
- Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 2
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0.5
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0.2
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0.5
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White34.8%
- Hispanic32.4%
- Black2.7%
- Asian19.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial10.6%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
AP student enrollment
Students enrolled
1 distinct course reported
Gifted and talented
Offered
Computer science
Offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Catawba County Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Bunker Hill High
High · Grades 09–12
845 reported students
Maiden High
High · Grades 09–12
852 reported students
Fred T Foard High
High · Grades 09–12
930 reported students
Bandys High
High · Grades 09–12
935 reported students
Saint Stephens High
High · Grades 09–12
1,268 reported students
Webb A Murray Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–06
380 reported students
Public schools near Challenger Early College High
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School High · Hickory City Schools | 09–12 | 201 | 3.9 mi |
| Newton-Conover High High · Newton Conover City Schools | 09–12 | 724 | 3.9 mi |
| Discovery High School High · Newton Conover City Schools | 09–12 | 146 | 3.9 mi |
| Hickory High High · Hickory City Schools | 09–12 | 1,024 | 4.3 mi |
| Saint Stephens High High · Catawba County Schools | 09–12 | 1,268 | 5.1 mi |
| Fred T Foard High High · Catawba County Schools | 09–12 | 930 | 7.3 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Early College High
What grades does Challenger Early College High serve?
Challenger Early College High reports grades 09–12 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a high school in Catawba County Schools.
How many students attend Challenger Early College High?
Challenger Early College High reported 376 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 39th percentile among 617 North Carolina high schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 344 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Challenger Early College High?
The calculated ratio is 33.5:1, based on 376 students and 11.22 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The North Carolina median for the same school level is 18.3:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Challenger Early College High a public, charter, or magnet school?
Challenger Early College High is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Catawba County Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Challenger Early College High students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
49.5% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Challenger Early College High in?
Challenger Early College High is part of Catawba County Schools, based in Newton, NC, which operates 28 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Challenger Early College High?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School (3.9 mi), Newton-Conover High (3.9 mi), Discovery High School (3.9 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.