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#1824 of 2,648 schools in NC

South Stanly High

High School · Stanly County Schools · Norwood, NC

A Stanly County Schools high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.

40488 S Stanly School Rd, Norwood, NC 28128

  • Math 62% vs NC 56% (2025)
  • Reading 47% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • 95%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.95 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.2Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61.9% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency46.6% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+5.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-4.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile45th
College Readiness6.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate95%+
AP Participation1.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.5Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.7:1
District spending per student$10,914
Chronic Absenteeism37.3%

Students at South Stanly High score 54% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency62%(2025 NC)
School
State
56%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency47%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2019, reaching 54% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
92%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
98%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
3%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
62%
ELA
47%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

58.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where South Stanly High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 4Car-Dependent
  • Bike 16Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$59,941

Median home value

$179,700

Median rent

$828/mo

College educated

22.3%

Homeownership

69.7%

Poverty rate

11.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28128; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1AP course offered
1.4% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics17sports offered
8 boys'·9 girls'·19 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Tillery Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition4.8privateK–92.4 mi41Compare →
Albemarle HighEnrollment path unverified4.59–12Not available444Compare →
North Stanly HighEnrollment path unverified6.89–12Not available578Compare →
West Stanly HighEnrollment path unverified6.09–12Not available785Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Stanly County Schools

Schools in district
23
Rank in district
#15 of 22
District spending per student
$10,914NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

South Stanly High is listed in Stanly County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About South Stanly High

South Stanly High is a public high school in Norwood, NC, part of Stanly County Schools, serving approximately 434 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,824 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about South Stanly High

What grades does South Stanly High serve?

South Stanly High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South Stanly High?

South Stanly High has an enrollment of approximately 434 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Stanly High?

The student-teacher ratio at South Stanly High is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South Stanly High rank in NC?

South Stanly High ranks #1,824 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is South Stanly High's MySchoolScout rating?

South Stanly High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at South Stanly High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Stanly High has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Stanly High a charter school?

No, South Stanly High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South Stanly High a Title I school?

No, South Stanly High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Stanly High?

58.8% of students at South Stanly High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
434
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Stanly County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.3%
4-Year Graduation
95%+
Area population (ZIP 28128)
7,610
Area average commute
29.2 min
Area median age
41.4
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28128; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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