Total enrollment
45,705
+1,169 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Union County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
57
+2 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
52%
was 62%
% Hispanic
22%
was 18%
% Black
13%
was 13%
% Asian
8%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
58
7 districts
Enrollment
45,934
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 2017-18, moving from about 44,536 students to 45,705. Over that span, Union County gained 2 schools, going from 55 to 57. The White share of public-school enrollment shrank from 62% to 52%.
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
Union County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data