St Stephens High School in Hickory, North Carolina on DonorsChoose

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It also allows Spanish-speaking students to read the books in Spanish and then go to the English version and better understand it. Literacy skills transfer from one language to another, so helping students maintain literacy in their first language while they develop skills in a second language makes them stronger readers in both languages.\r\n\r\nOur ESL classes were very excited about coming to the library to look at the new Spanish books and check them out in the spring and I know that they will continue to visit the library and use the books in Spanish. Many of these students love to read and your generosity has allowed us to offer them more choices of books in Spanish for them to read and enjoy. 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One formerly quiet student now leads group identifications with confidence, and another keeps a nature journal inspired by the guide.\r\n\r\nYou've turned reading into an adventure and helped my students connect science to the living world around them. Thank you for making them into true citizen scientists!","fullyFundedDate":1744245573103,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-trees-carbon-climate-hand/9246463/","projectTitle":"Exploring Trees, Carbon, & Climate: Hands-On Science Project","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Geitner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9975866_orig.jpg?crop=2130,2130,x0,y191&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742846326955","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9975866"},{"teacherId":9975866,"projectId":9208007,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my Environmental Earth Science students had the incredible opportunity for hands-on learning through our Renewable Energy House Lab. The materials you funded became the building blocks of creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving in our classroom.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, my students were very excited. In small teams, they researched renewable energy, brainstormed design plans, and worked within a budget to build their houses. They then tested the solar panel and wind turbine. All the students were able to get their houses to generate the energy to light up a small LED. Along the way, they collected data, revised their designs, and learned how sustainability and engineering intersect.\r\n\r\nThis project didn't just teach them about energy. To complete the project students had to plan, assign roles, and work as a team. 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About this school

St Stephens High School is a suburban public school in Hickory, North Carolina that is part of Catawba County School District. It serves 1,226 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 17.5:1. Its teachers have had 53 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

1,226 Students

70 Teachers

3205 34th Street Dr NE

Hickory, NC 28601 View local requests

http://www.catawbaschools.net/schools/ststephenshigh/default.aspx

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

St Stephens High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Geitner

Mrs. Jessica Caldwell

Mr. Owens

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St Stephens High School Demographics

71%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

43%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

St Stephens High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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