Enrollment
875
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Monroe, NC
Central Academy of Technology and Arts
Federal NCES profile for Central Academy of Technology and Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370462001806
👥 S:T ratio 31
📚 AP courses 80
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Academy of Technology and Arts earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 6
- high schools in Monroe · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.2:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 13.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Academy of Technology and Arts has class sizes larger than 74% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Academy of Technology and Arts ranks #2 of 6 high schools in Monroe, NC.
School address
District: Union County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370462001806 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
51.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
13.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-80% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Academy of Technology and Arts compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Academy of Technology and Arts
Central Academy of Technology and Arts is a lower-poverty, large high school in Monroe, North Carolina, enrolling 875 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.2:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 13.3% free-meal eligibility runs 80% below the North Carolina average.
Enrollment of 875 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 144 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #14, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and Asian (16%) (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 16 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 292 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
11.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Monroe's high schools, it stands alongside Sun Valley High (1,272 students): Central Academy of Technology and Arts is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.2:1 vs 16.5:1).
Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students) and Weddington High (1,899 students) alongside Central Academy of Technology and Arts.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Central Academy of Technology and Arts compares
Central Academy of Technology and Arts on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.3% | ▼ 80% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 875 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
875
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
13.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 74% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,010
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 292 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 57.1%
Asian 15.7%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%
African American 8.5%
Two or More 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 57.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, Central Academy of Technology and Arts is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Union County Public Schools, which includes Central Academy of Technology and Arts.
$11,010
Per student
-8%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 55.8%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Central Academy of Technology and Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weddington High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cuthbertson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Academy of Technology and Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,961
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,857
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,447
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar high schools in Monroe
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Sun Valley High
Standard public school
1,272 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Piedmont High
Standard public school
1,270 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Monroe High
Standard public school
1,215 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Parkwood High
Standard public school
1,082 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Union County Early College
Standard public school
340 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~875 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Academy of Technology and Arts's federal record.
- Compare Central Academy of Technology and Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Union County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Central Academy of Technology and Arts
How many students attend Central Academy of Technology and Arts?
Central Academy of Technology and Arts has 875 students enrolled. It is a high school in Monroe, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Academy of Technology and Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Academy of Technology and Arts is 17.2:1, which is 9% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Academy of Technology and Arts?
13.3% of students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Academy of Technology and Arts?
The largest demographic group at Central Academy of Technology and Arts is White at 57.1% of enrollment, in Monroe, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Academy of Technology and Arts?
Central Academy of Technology and Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Academy of Technology and Arts rank among high schools in Monroe?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Academy of Technology and Arts ranks #2 of 6 high schools in Monroe, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Monroe on the city page.
Is Central Academy of Technology and Arts a good school?
Central Academy of Technology and Arts earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Union County Public Schools?
Besides Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students), Weddington High (1,899 students), and Cuthbertson High (1,857 students). See the Union County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.