Cabarrus County Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Cabarrus County Schools

Cabarrus County Schools serves a growing area across five towns in the northern part of the state: Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland, and Mount Pleasant. The district enrolls a large student population spanning pre-kindergarten through grade thirteen, reflecting a community experiencing sustained growth that has prompted significant operational changes in recent years.

The district's student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up a plurality, with Black, Hispanic, and Asian students also representing substantial portions of enrollment. The enrollment spans the full K-12 range with consistent grade cohorts, though specific counts for students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and those identified with disabilities were not available in the data.

In state testing during the most recent school year, Cabarrus students showed mixed results across subjects. In mathematics, roughly two-thirds of students in grades three through eight scored at proficient levels or above. English language arts proficiency tracked slightly lower, with about three in five students meeting grade-level standards. Science showed the strongest performance, with proficiency rates notably higher than the other two subjects. Trend data to compare year-over-year movement was not available, so it is unclear whether these results represent stability, improvement, or decline from prior years.

The district operates more than forty schools across the county, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and several specialized programs. The district offers a magnet school option and has established early college offerings including a health sciences institute and a separate early college of technology. These pathways allow students to earn dual credit or pursue career-focused sequences alongside traditional academics. The district also maintains a virtual academy and an opportunity school for students who need alternative settings.

A significant restructuring took place for the 2024-25 school year. The school board approved a districtwide boundary realignment that reassigned students across elementary, middle, and high schools and closed one elementary school while opening a replacement. Publicly reported, this change was designed as the foundation of the district's long-term growth management in response to rapid residential expansion in the county. Because school assignments drive where families can live, this redrawing of attendance zones ranks among the most consequential parent-relevant changes in recent district history.

In early 2025, the board unanimously approved funding to adopt a new, uniform English language arts curriculum aligned to Science of Reading research for all K-8 classrooms. Publicly reported, this marked the first time in roughly two decades that the district had adopted a single ELA curriculum; teachers had previously assembled their own materials from free online sources. This change affects reading and writing instruction across every elementary and middle school classroom in the district.

Among Cabarrus County's districts, Cabarrus County Schools ranks in the top quartile for chronic absenteeism rates, meaning fewer students miss school frequently compared to other district neighbors. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle range, in the lower half relative to peer districts in the county.

The area's housing market shows median home values in the mid-range, with some variation across the five towns served. Rents have risen modestly in recent months. Mortgages at prevailing rates represent a substantial monthly obligation relative to area incomes, though rents consume a smaller share of household income than mortgage payments would. The local unemployment rate remains moderate and median household income is above national norms, suggesting a stable economic base for families in the district.

Data on the district's graduation rate, detailed demographic breakdowns for English learners and students with disabilities, and free or reduced-price lunch participation were not available. A parent considering this district may want to look into those metrics directly with the school system, along with performance data at individual schools, which vary within a large district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

35,021

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 19%

Black 23%

White 39%

Asian 12%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

35%

68%

Gr 4

50%

79%

Gr 5

43%

78%

Gr 6

45%

79%

Gr 7

42%

76%

Gr 8

46%

78%

Gr 38

44%

76%

Math

Gr 3

53%

83%

Gr 4

51%

82%

Gr 5

49%

83%

Gr 6

45%

83%

Gr 7

39%

79%

Gr 8

34%

72%

Gr 38

45%

80%

Science

Gr 5

54%

85%

Gr 8

53%

84%

Gr 38

53%

85%

Schools in this District

44 schools are officially reported under this district.

A T Allen Elementary

Bethel Elementary

Central Cabarrus High

Harrisburg Elementary

Mount Pleasant Elementary

Mount Pleasant High

Northwest Cabarrus High

Royal Oaks Elementary

W R Odell Primary

Winecoff Elementary

Wolf Meadow Elementary

Beverly Hills Elementary

Coltrane-Webb Elementary

Concord Middle

Concord High

R Brown McAllister Elementary

Weddington Hills Elementary

Northwest Cabarrus Middle

Cabarrus Co Opportunity School

Rocky River Elementary

Mount Pleasant Middle

J N Fries Magnet School

Pitts School Road Elementary

Charles E Boger Elementary

Hickory Ridge High

Carl A Furr Elementary

Performance Learning Center

Cox Mill High School

Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll

Hickory Ridge Middle

Patriots Elementary

Harold E. Winkler Middle

W R Odell Elementary

Cabarrus Early College of Technology

West Cabarrus High

Hickory Ridge Elementary

Cabarrus County Schools Virtual Academy

Roberta Road Middle

Cabarrus Health Sciences Institute

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

66%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

63%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

72%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$388,168

Year-over-year change-0.6%

Range across 16 ZIP codes$269K to $660K

vs. state typical1.15x

vs. national typical1.05x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (16 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
28025	Concord	$344K	-1.9%	31.1%
28027	Concord	$417K	-1.5%	19.8%
28124	Mount Pleasant	$381K	+0.1%	14.4%
28107	Midland	$432K	+1.2%	12.8%
28075	Harrisburg	$507K	-1.3%	6.0%
28071	Gold Hill	$335K	+2.9%	3.7%
28138	Rockwell	$297K	+1.3%	3.2%
28081	Kannapolis	$298K	+1.2%	2.7%
28083	Kannapolis	$269K	+0.7%	2.4%
28036	Davidson	$660K	+1.1%	2.3%

Showing top 10 of 16 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,889/mo

Year-over-year change+2.7%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$1,564 to $2,456/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
28025	Concord	$1,862	+3.4%	31.1%
28027	Concord	$1,702	+0.4%	19.8%
28107	Midland	$2,034	—	12.8%
28075	Harrisburg	$2,456	+6.3%	6.0%
28081	Kannapolis	$1,645	+4.4%	2.7%
28083	Kannapolis	$1,739	+2.3%	2.4%
28036	Davidson	$2,024	+4.5%	2.3%
28215	Charlotte	$1,959	+0.6%	0.6%
28078	Huntersville	$1,947	+0.1%	0.4%
28269	Charlotte	$1,710	-0.7%	0.3%
28213	Charlotte	$1,617	-0.2%	0.1%
28262	Charlotte	$1,564	-0.7%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,959/mo

Home price / national median income4.6x

Annual rent / national median income27.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$70/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$337,273 (-0.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.