Union County Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Monroe, North Carolina - 52 schools

An equity score of 32/100 ranks Union County Public Schools #195 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,010 per pupil, Union County Public Schools ranks #191 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

41,497
Total Enrollment
52
Schools
$11,010
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, 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 combined, 11 high, 9 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage across a sizeable portfolio before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Union County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,010 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 28.9% local, 55.8% state, and 15.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 32/100, ranked #195 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 10 of 52 schools offering Advanced Placement (173 AP courses district-wide), a 443.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 29.7% 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Porter Ridge Elementary, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.

Its largest campus is Marvin Ridge High, enrolling 1,961 students (5% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is South Providence, at 91 students, a 22x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

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 is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. 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 29.7% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Union County Public Schools is typically wider than the Union County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

32
Equity Score
195 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

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

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.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 57.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Union County Public Schools's schools, about the same as the North Carolina average of 56.1.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Porter Ridge Elementary 71.8
  2. 2 Marshville Elementary 70.0
  3. 3 Rocky River Elementary 69.9
  4. 4 Wolfe School 69.7
  5. 5 Shiloh Valley Primary School 69.3

Programs & Resources

10 / 52
Schools with AP
173 AP courses total
443.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.7%
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

How Union County Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Johnston County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Cabarrus County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Cumberland County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Durham Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Gaston County Schools Smaller Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Union County Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Union County Public Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/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 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 41,497 students.

How much does Union County Public Schools spend per student?

Union County Public Schools spends $11,010 per student. The district has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #195 in North Carolina.

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 32/100, ranking #195 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.