Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools prepare their students for far-reaching success, so that when they enter the workforce or attend college they excel in 21st century environments.
Cabarrus County Schools
Progressive, innovative and child-centered are just a few words used to describe Cabarrus County Schools. Their students are educated by highly trained, talented, professional and caring teachers in classrooms infused with the technology, tools and resources needed to help them reach their potential.
The district is among the largest school systems in North Carolina, educating just more than 33,000 students for the 2018-2019 school year. CCS is one of the largest employers in Cabarrus County, with approximately 4,000 employees.
CCS offers students a broad range of educational opportunities and experiences. Everything from a time-tested traditional education to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), International Baccalaureate and language immersion to career and technical education, global studies, early colleges, fine arts and athletics to world languages, exceptional children and gifted education – clearly setting them apart.
Currently, their system is home to 20 elementary schools, eight middle schools, eight high schools, two early colleges, one preschool and one alternative school. High school students can enroll in one of their National Academy Foundation-certified learning academies that focus on information technology, biotechnology and health sciences, engineering and automation, energy and sustainability or hospitality and finance.
Cabarrus County Schools is experiencing tremendous growth as more and more families move to Cabarrus County and call it home. The district is predicted to grow by 500 to 1,000 students each year for the next 10 years. Multiple construction projects for new are under way, including a new elementary school and a new high school.
Kannapolis City Schools
With more than 5,000 students in nine schools, Kannapolis City Schools provides a broad array of offerings to students in kindergarten through 12th grades.
Students benefit from academies in culinary arts, engineering and health sciences. They can earn college credit while still in high school and enroll in programs that certify them for careers in welding, information technology, HVAC, automotive and more. They can even find online options ranging from psychology to oceanography. In fact, the district is one of only four districts in the state to be recognized on the College Board’s AP Honor Roll.
Starting in kindergarten, the district provides extensive STEM classes taught by highly qualified teachers and certified STEM fellows. Students also benefit from partnerships with the North Carolina Research Campus and others.
Besides the unique variety of STEM, online and career certification programs, the district also provides a full range of courses in the arts. Students may take classes in dance, music, chorus, visual arts, theater and more. The district has even added the area’s only A+ Arts magnet program, as well as magnet programs in global studies and Spanish language immersion.
Being part of a district with just one high school means that every student has access to all of the outstanding programs and academies offered in the district. Whether students want to pursue careers in welding, medicine, teaching, engineering, HVAC or culinary arts, they can find their inspiration in the district. In addition, district students earned $2.5 million in college scholarships in 2018.
Classes with Clout
Taking an Alternative Approach Going Beyond Academics. Recognizing school choice is important, and Cabarrus County offers several alternatives to traditional public schools.
Cabarrus Charter Academy
Cabarrus Charter Academy, a tuition-free public charter school, offers personalized learning plans to ensure that all students are performing at their best. The academy serves children in kindergarten through high school. The school is governed by the North Carolina Charter Educational Foundation and is also a member of Charter Schools USA.
The academy follows the Charter Schools USA Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum education model, which helps to improve learning and academic success. This approach is aligned with state standards and places an emphasis on college and career readiness.
Pupils also have exceptional extracurricular activities and athletics from which to choose, including athletics, drama, karate club and next step dance.
Cannon School
Educating junior kindergarten through 12th grades, Cannon School is a private college-preparatory institution that has three divisions — lower school (junior kindergarten to fourth grades), middle school (fifth to eighth grades) and upper school (ninth to 12th grades) — and is served by more than 100 full-time faculty members.
Helping students prepare for their futures, the school offers college counseling beginning in the ninth grade. Through this process, students and their parents learn about choosing the right college or university, research, self awareness and evaluating their decisions.
Complementing its rigorous academics, students can participate in sports, after-school activities and care, as well as organizations.
Carolina International School
Carolina International School is a K-12 public charter school that opened its doors in the fall of 2004 as Cabarrus County’s first charter school. It presently enrolls 900 students and provides a well-rounded education for all.
With international perspectives and environmental awareness brought to each of the subject areas, the school helps foster an understanding among young people around the world and stewardship of natural resources, enabling future generations to live more peacefully and productively. Innovative programs include a project-oriented thematic study with inquiry-based instruction, international emphasis through sister cities across the globe, environmental studies on a 82-acre site with forest and wetlands, individual learning emphasis for each student and a character education with the school’s core values of respect, responsibility, solutions and service.
The school also provides for a broad range of extracurricular activities for students of all ages, including a full middle and high school athletics program.
Concord First Assembly Academy
Concord First Assembly Academy has been providing a Christ-centered education to its students since 1976. With over 750 pupils and 565 families, the academy serves children from infant through 12th grades. The day care accepts infants to 3-year-olds, and the school accepts students K4-12th grade.
Students study core subjects of math, language arts, social studies, science, Bible and Spanish, as well electives/enrichment courses such as physical education, music and drama, art, band and computer skills The academy provides a Christian environment along with Biblical integration in every course. The fine arts program is award winning and offers choir, band, drama and visual arts.
Starting in middle school, students have the option of participating in athletics, such as football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, cross country and golf. These are a few of the 24 teams available to students. The academy’s varsity teams have participated in state tournaments and have on several occasions won state championships.
Concord First Assembly Academy is proud to host more than 25 international students from all over the world. Represented countries include: Spain, China, Vietnam, Denmark, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. Home-school students are welcome to participate at the school as well, with options for both seated and online learning. n
College Bound
Degrees Propel Students Forward. First-time undergraduates and career changers both find high-quality courses they need at institutions right here in Cabarrus County.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
With two campuses in Concord, two in Kannapolis and one in Salisbury, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers a wide variety of programs to serve a diverse population. The college boasts Career & College Promise pathways tuition free to high school students. These pathways can lead to a certificate, diploma or degree and provide an unmatched entry-level skill set for students.
Rowan-Cabarrus offers 32 degrees, 30 diplomas and 142 certificates. With an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, scholars get the individual attention they need to grasp classroom concepts so they can apply to real-world practices.
Students can also take advantage of the school’s college transfer program. The program has three areas — Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Associate in Science. Students can earn up to 60 hours, then transfer to a four-year University of North Carolina System institution. Students can also earn credit hours to transfer to private colleges and universities.
Helping new and existing small businesses with their needs, the Rowan-Cabarrus Community Small Business Center was recently recognized as a center of excellence. Whether entrepreneurs are just starting, or already have an existing small business, the center helps develop a plan of action, educational information and assistance.
Rowan-Cabarrus broke ground on its Advanced Technology Center in Kannapolis on the North Carolina Research Campus, which is estimated to open in 2019. This world-class facility will be home to new programs and high-tech equipment for the jobs of the future.
College of Health Sciences
Recently named the best small college in North Carolina, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is on the campus of Atrium Health’s Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast and part of one of the most innovative and respected health care systems in the U.S. Its affiliation with Atrium Health means individuals learn in an immersive health care environment with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, as well as access to a vast network of professional opportunities.
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is easily set apart from others, thanks to its laser focus on health care education; low student-to-faculty ratio of 7-to-1, which means small classes and individualized instruction; respected, highly qualified faculty who know you and are committed to your success; exceptionally high pass rates on licensure/certification exams; excellent job placement for graduates; and university-quality education in a small college atmosphere at an affordable price.