Union County Public Schools

Monroe, North Carolina — 52 schools

41,497
Total Enrollment
52
Schools
$11,790
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Union County Public Schools operates 52 public schools serving 41,497 students, placing it among the larger districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 31 other, 11 high, 9 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 41,272 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Union County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,790 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 28.9% local, 55.8% state, and 15.3% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $70,701 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 30/100, ranked #211 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 10 of 52 schools offering Advanced Placement (173 AP courses district-wide), a 443.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 31.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 49.0% White, 24.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% African American across the district's schools.

Union County Public Schools school enrollment varies 22× across entities

Union County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 91 students (lowest) to 1,961 students (highest), a spread of 1,870 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Union County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 444:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Union County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 31.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.3%
Federal
55.8%
State
28.9%
Local

Funding Equity

30
Equity Score
211 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Union County county, where this district is located.

$1,469
Studio/mo
$1,538
1 BR/mo
$1,686
2 BR/mo
$2,076
3 BR/mo
$2,637
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$70,701
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 52 schools in Union County Public Schools.

White 49.0%
Hispanic or Latino 24.7%
African American 13.9%
Asian 7.2%
Multiracial 4.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

10 / 52
Schools with AP
173 AP courses total
443.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Union County Public Schools

School Enrollment
Marvin Ridge High
1,961
Weddington High
1,899
Cuthbertson High
1,857
Porter Ridge High School
1,809
Porter Ridge Middle School
1,447
Weddington Middle
1,324
Cuthbertson Middle
1,323
Marvin Ridge Middle
1,277
Sun Valley High
1,272
Piedmont High
1,270
Monroe High
1,215
Parkwood High
1,082
Piedmont Middle
980
Forest Hills High
973
Sun Valley Middle
909
Kensington Elementary
901
Parkwood Middle
879
Central Academy of Technology and Arts
875
Antioch Elementary
816
Monroe Middle
802
Stallings Elementary
766
Porter Ridge Elementary
765
Poplin Elementary
756
Wesley Chapel Elementary
729
New Town Elementary
691
East Union Middle
683
Unionville Elementary
679
Marvin Elementary
666
Weddington Elementary
652
Indian Trail Elementary
633
Rea View Elementary
629
Waxhaw Elementary
615
Shiloh Valley Elementary
574
Shiloh Valley Primary School
563
Western Union Elementary
539
Rocky River Elementary
536
Sardis Elementary
529
Sandy Ridge Elementary
528
Hemby Bridge Elementary
491
Benton Heights Elementary
451
Walter Bickett Elementary
444
East Elementary
423
Marshville Elementary
419
Fairview Elementary
394
Wingate Elementary
394
Rock Rest Elementary
394
Prospect Elementary
373
Union County Early College
340
Union Elementary
296
New Salem Elementary
249
Wolfe School
109
South Providence
91

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $14,074/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $15,997/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,788/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,982/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →

Compare Union County Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Union County Public Schools?

Union County Public Schools has 52 schools, including 11 high, 9 middle, 31 other, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 41,497 students.

How much does Union County Public Schools spend per student?

Union County Public Schools spends $11,790 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #211 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Union County Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Union County Public Schools is $70,701 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Union County Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Union County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Union County Public Schools?

Union County Public Schools students are 49.0% White, 24.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% African American, 7.2% Asian, averaged across 52 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Union County Public Schools?

Union County Public Schools has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #211 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.