Total enrollment
45,705
+1,507 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Union County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Union County's 58 public schools sit inside North Carolina and collectively enroll about 45,934 K-12 students across 32 elementary, 9 middle, and 14 high.
4-year change in Union County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
57
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Union County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 68.8% | #1 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 45,934 | #7 of 98 | #236 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 58 | #9 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.9:1 | #78 of 98 | #2,280 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 40.5% | #94 of 98 | #2,079 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.8% | #34 of 94 | #289 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Union County school rankings
Residents
250,958
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
58
7 districts
Enrollment
45,934
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$102,900
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.5%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
32
17,236 students
Middle
9
9,624 students
High
14
14,982 students
Combined / other
3
4,092 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Union County Public Schools
41,272 students · 7 districts in Union County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Union County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
40.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
39
25.6% under 18
Test scores in Union County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 48 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Union County Early College· 94.0%
- Central Academy of Technology and Arts· 93.8%
- Wesley Chapel Elementary· 92.2%
- Weddington High· 90.2%
- Sandy Ridge Elementary· 87.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- East Elementary· 16.8%
- Walter Bickett Elementary· 23.5%
- Monroe High· 28.6%
- Monroe Middle· 29.0%
- East Union Middle· 37.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Academy | Monroe | Combined | KG-12 | 2,186 | · |
| Marvin Ridge High | Waxhaw | High | 09-12 | 1,961 | · |
| Weddington High | Matthews | High | 09-12 | 1,899 | · |
| Cuthbertson High | Waxhaw | High | 09-12 | 1,857 | · |
| Porter Ridge High School | Indian Trail | High | 09-12 | 1,809 | · |
| Porter Ridge Middle School | Indian Trail | Middle | 06-08 | 1,447 | · |
| Weddington Middle | Matthews | Middle | 06-08 | 1,324 | · |
| Cuthbertson Middle | Waxhaw | Middle | 06-08 | 1,323 | · |
| Marvin Ridge Middle | Waxhaw | Middle | 06-08 | 1,277 | · |
| Sun Valley High | Monroe | High | 09-12 | 1,272 | · |
| Piedmont High | Monroe | High | 09-12 | 1,270 | · |
| Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail | Indian Trail | Combined | KG-11 | 1,268 | · |
| Monroe High | Monroe | High | 09-12 | 1,215 | · |
| Parkwood High | Monroe | High | 09-12 | 1,082 | · |
| Piedmont Middle | Monroe | Middle | 06-08 | 980 | · |
| Forest Hills High | Marshville | High | 09-12 | 973 | · |
| Sun Valley Middle | Indian Trail | Middle | 06-08 | 909 | · |
| Kensington Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | KG-05 | 901 | · |
| Parkwood Middle | Monroe | Middle | 06-08 | 879 | · |
| Central Academy of Technology and Arts | Monroe | High | 09-12 | 875 | · |
| Antioch Elementary | Matthews | Elementary | KG-05 | 816 | · |
| Monroe Middle | Monroe | Middle | 06-08 | 802 | · |
| Stallings Elementary | Stallings | Elementary | KG-05 | 766 | · |
| Porter Ridge Elementary | Indian Trail | Elementary | PK-05 | 765 | · |
| Poplin Elementary | Indian Trail | Elementary | KG-05 | 756 | · |
| Wesley Chapel Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | KG-05 | 729 | · |
| New Town Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | PK-05 | 691 | · |
| East Union Middle | Marshville | Middle | 06-08 | 683 | · |
| Unionville Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 679 | · |
| Marvin Elementary | Marvin | Elementary | PK-05 | 666 | · |
| Weddington Elementary | Matthews | Elementary | PK-05 | 652 | · |
| Union Day School | Weddington | Combined | KG-11 | 638 | · |
| Indian Trail Elementary | Indian Trail | Elementary | PK-05 | 633 | · |
| Rea View Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | KG-05 | 629 | · |
| Waxhaw Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | PK-05 | 615 | · |
| Shiloh Valley Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | 03-05 | 574 | · |
| Shiloh Valley Primary School | Monroe | Elementary | PK-02 | 563 | · |
| Western Union Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | KG-05 | 539 | · |
| Rocky River Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 536 | · |
| Sardis Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 529 | · |
| Sandy Ridge Elementary | Waxhaw | Elementary | KG-05 | 528 | · |
| Hemby Bridge Elementary | Indian Trail | Elementary | PK-05 | 491 | · |
| Benton Heights Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 451 | · |
| Walter Bickett Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 444 | · |
| East Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 423 | · |
| Marshville Elementary | Marshville | Elementary | PK-05 | 419 | · |
| Fairview Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | KG-05 | 394 | · |
| Rock Rest Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | PK-05 | 394 | · |
| Wingate Elementary | Wingate | Elementary | PK-05 | 394 | · |
| Prospect Elementary | Monroe | Elementary | KG-05 | 373 | · |
| Union County Early College | Monroe | High | 09-13 | 340 | · |
| Union Elementary | Wingate | Elementary | KG-05 | 296 | · |
| New Salem Elementary | Marshville | Elementary | KG-05 | 249 | · |
| ALA Monroe | Monroe | Elementary | KG-08 | 237 | · |
| Apprentice Academy High School | Monroe | High | 07-12 | 229 | · |
| Wolfe School | Monroe | High | 06-12 | 109 | · |
| Monroe Charter Academy | Waxhaw | Elementary | KG-07 | 104 | · |
| South Providence | Waxhaw | High | 06-12 | 91 | · |
Cities in Union County
About Union County
Across the wide-reaching North Carolina county of Union County of about 250,958 residents, the public-school footprint covers 58 schools and about 45,934 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $102,900, roughly 41% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 63% above the North Carolina median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Union County is made up of 32 elementary schools (17,236 students), 9 middle schools (9,624), 14 high schools (14,982), and 3 combined or other schools.
Union County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 41,272 students across Union County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Union County has increased 3% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 44,198 students to 45,705.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Union County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data