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

No. Use the Union 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 Union 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 Union County?

Start with the 57 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Union County Schools & Education

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

Union County, North Carolina

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

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,994

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#29

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Union County

Measured School Summary

Union County performs at an average level with a school score of 45/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.0%.

Funding Context

At $5,994 per pupil, Union County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 13% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Union 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

57 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

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #29 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

93.0%

5.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,994

$975 below the state average

School coverage

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Union County has 57 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 Union 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

Union County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 52 of 57 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#29

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points above 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.

Union County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

41,497 students

Elementary 30Middle 9High 12Other 1

52 listed schools in this county slice.

Union Academy Charter School

Other grade structure

2,129 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai

Other grade structure

1,060 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Union Day School

Other grade structure

552 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Union County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 52 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 Union County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Union 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 Union 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.

Expansive Education Options in Union

Union County features a robust network of 57 public schools serving a large population of 45,622 students. The system includes 31 elementary, 9 middle, and 13 high schools, supported by 6 distinct school districts. This extensive infrastructure provides diverse choices for families across the region.

District Leaders and Charter Choices

Union County Public Schools is the dominant district, serving 41,497 students across 52 schools. The county also offers 5 charter schools, including Union Academy, which is the largest single school in the county with 2,129 students. These charters represent nearly 9% of the total schools, offering specialized curriculum paths.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Union County

Reported Enrollment

45,622

57 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

9% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary31

Middle9

High13

Other4

6 School Districts in Union County

Union County Public Schools

Union Academy Charter School

1 school

2,129 students

Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai

1 school

1,060 students

Union Day School

1 school

552 students

Apprentice Academy HS of NC

1 school

249 students

Monroe Charter Academy

1 school

135 students

57 Public Schools in Union County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 18 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 57 matching schools

Public schools in Union County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Union Academy	Profile	Union Academy Charter School	Monroe, 28110Suburb: Large	KG–12	Charter	2,129
Marvin Ridge High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Waxhaw, 28173Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,074
Cuthbertson High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Waxhaw, 28173Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,938
Weddington High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Matthews, 28104Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,836
Porter Ridge High School	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Indian Trail, 28079Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,754
Weddington Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Matthews, 28104Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,450
Sun Valley High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28110Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,442
Marvin Ridge Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Waxhaw, 28173Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,358
Cuthbertson Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Waxhaw, 28173Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	1,344
Porter Ridge Middle School	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Indian Trail, 28079Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	1,291
Piedmont High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28110Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,265
Parkwood High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28112Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,061
Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail	Profile	Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai	Indian Trail, 28079Suburb: Large	KG–9	Charter	1,060
Monroe High	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28112Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,041
Kensington Elementary	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Waxhaw, 28173Suburb: Large	PK–5	Primary	1,032
Sun Valley Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Indian Trail, 28079Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	991
Piedmont Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28110Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	968
Monroe Middle	Profile	Union County Public Schools	Monroe, 28112Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	955
Forest Hills High	Record	Union County Public Schools	Marshville, 28103Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	873
Antioch Elementary	Record	Union County Public Schools	Matthews, 28104Suburb: Large	PK–5	Primary	862

Union Academy

Union Academy Charter School

Monroe, 28110 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter2,129 students

Marvin Ridge High

Union County Public Schools

Waxhaw, 28173 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,074 students

Cuthbertson High

Union County Public Schools

Waxhaw, 28173 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,938 students

Weddington High

Union County Public Schools

Matthews, 28104 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,836 students

Porter Ridge High School

Union County Public Schools

Indian Trail, 28079 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,754 students

Weddington Middle

Union County Public Schools

Matthews, 28104 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,450 students

Sun Valley High

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28110 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,442 students

Marvin Ridge Middle

Union County Public Schools

Waxhaw, 28173 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,358 students

Cuthbertson Middle

Union County Public Schools

Waxhaw, 28173 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,344 students

Porter Ridge Middle School

Union County Public Schools

Indian Trail, 28079 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,291 students

Piedmont High

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28110 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,265 students

Parkwood High

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28112 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,061 students

Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail

Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai

Indian Trail, 28079 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–9Charter1,060 students

Monroe High

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28112 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,041 students

Kensington Elementary

Union County Public Schools

Waxhaw, 28173 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–5Primary1,032 students

Sun Valley Middle

Union County Public Schools

Indian Trail, 28079 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle991 students

Piedmont Middle

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28110 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle968 students

Monroe Middle

Union County Public Schools

Monroe, 28112 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle955 students

Forest Hills High

Union County Public Schools

Marshville, 28103 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High873 students

Antioch Elementary

Union County Public Schools

Matthews, 28104 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary862 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,994

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Union 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 Union County?

Union County has a school score of 45/100, which is a midrange 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 Union County?

The high school graduation rate in Union County is 93.0%, 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 Union County spend per student?

Union County spends $5,994 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 Union County, North Carolina — FAQ

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

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

Counties with Similar School Profile

Perquimans County

North Carolina

-0 pts

45/100

School score

Onslow County

North Carolina

-1 pts

44/100

School score

Burke County

North Carolina

-2 pts

43/100

School score

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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