Can I use Cabarrus County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Cabarrus County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Cabarrus County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Cabarrus County?

Start with the 55 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Cabarrus County Schools & Education

Name: Cabarrus County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Cabarrus County, North Carolina

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

89.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,204

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#66

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cabarrus County

Measured School Summary

Cabarrus County faces educational challenges with a school score of 33/100 and a graduation rate of 89.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,204 per pupil, Cabarrus County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 18% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cabarrus County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

55 public schools and 6 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

33/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #66 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

89.4%

1.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,204

$765 below the state average

School coverage

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cabarrus County has 55 public schools across 6 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Cabarrus County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Cabarrus County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 44 of 55 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#66

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Cabarrus County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

34,810 students

Elementary 21Middle 9High 12Other 2

44 listed schools in this county slice.

Kannapolis City Schools

Elementary to high school visible

5,121 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Carolina International School

Other grade structure

731 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Cabarrus Charter Academy

Other grade structure

669 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Cabarrus County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 44 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cabarrus County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cabarrus County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cabarrus County, North Carolina

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Massive School System in a Growing Hub

Cabarrus County supports a large population of 42,353 students across 55 public schools. The infrastructure is robust, featuring 28 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 13 high schools. Six different districts manage these facilities, reflecting the county's complex and rapid suburban growth.

Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Districts

Cabarrus County Schools is one of the state's largest districts, educating 34,810 students in 44 schools. Kannapolis City Schools adds significant capacity with 8 schools and 5,390 students. Four charter schools, including Carolina International School, offer additional alternatives for over 700 students.

Large-Scale High Schools and Locale Diversity

Educational life here is defined by large campuses, with West Cabarrus High serving over 1,800 students. The county offers a true mix of environments, with 22 city, 17 suburban, and 16 rural schools. With an average school size of 770 students, these campuses are bustling centers of academic and social activity.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Cabarrus County

Reported Enrollment

42,353

55 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary28

Middle10

High13

Other4

6 School Districts in Cabarrus County

Cabarrus County Schools

Kannapolis City Schools

Carolina International School

1 school

731 students

Cabarrus Charter Academy

1 school

669 students

Concord Lake STEAM Academy

1 school

603 students

A.C.E. Academy

1 school

419 students

55 Public Schools in Cabarrus County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 16 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 55 matching schools

Public schools in Cabarrus County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
West Cabarrus High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,833
Cox Mill High School	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,762
A L Brown High	Profile	Kannapolis City Schools	Kannapolis, 28083Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,741
Hickory Ridge High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Harrisburg, 28075Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,720
Central Cabarrus High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28025City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,305
Kannapolis Middle	Profile	Kannapolis City Schools	Kannapolis, 28081Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,238
Harris Road Middle	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,235
Northwest Cabarrus High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,138
Jay M Robinson High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,080
Cox Mill Elementary	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	1,079
Hickory Ridge Elementary	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Harrisburg, 28075Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	1,042
Concord High	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28025City: Midsize	9–12	High	984
Roberta Road Middle	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	961
C C Griffin Middle	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28025Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	959
Weddington Hills Elementary	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28025City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	937
Hickory Ridge Middle	Profile	Cabarrus County Schools	Harrisburg, 28075Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	935
W R Odell Elementary	Record	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28027City: Midsize	3–5	Primary	907
Mount Pleasant High	Record	Cabarrus County Schools	Mount Pleasant, 28124Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	902
Patriots Elementary	Record	Cabarrus County Schools	Concord, 28025Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	901
Charles E Boger Elementary	Record	Cabarrus County Schools	Kannapolis, 28081Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	870

West Cabarrus High

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,833 students

Cox Mill High School

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,762 students

A L Brown High

Kannapolis City Schools

Kannapolis, 28083 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,741 students

Hickory Ridge High

Cabarrus County Schools

Harrisburg, 28075 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,720 students

Central Cabarrus High

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28025 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,305 students

Kannapolis Middle

Kannapolis City Schools

Kannapolis, 28081 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,238 students

Harris Road Middle

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,235 students

Northwest Cabarrus High

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,138 students

Jay M Robinson High

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,080 students

Cox Mill Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–5Primary1,079 students

Hickory Ridge Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Harrisburg, 28075 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–5Primary1,042 students

Concord High

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28025 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High984 students

Roberta Road Middle

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle961 students

C C Griffin Middle

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28025 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle959 students

Weddington Hills Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28025 / City: Midsize

ProfileKG–5Primary937 students

Hickory Ridge Middle

Cabarrus County Schools

Harrisburg, 28075 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle935 students

W R Odell Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28027 / City: Midsize

Record3–5Primary907 students

Mount Pleasant High

Cabarrus County Schools

Mount Pleasant, 28124 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High902 students

Patriots Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Concord, 28025 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary901 students

Charles E Boger Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools

Kannapolis, 28081 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary870 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,204

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cabarrus County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?

Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Cabarrus County?

Cabarrus County has a school score of 33/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Cabarrus County?

The high school graduation rate in Cabarrus County is 89.4%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Cabarrus County spend per student?

Cabarrus County spends $6,204 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cabarrus County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cabarrus County, North Carolina?

What are the major school districts in Cabarrus County, North Carolina?

What is the school experience like in Cabarrus County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Forsyth County

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Hoke County

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Randolph County

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By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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