Middle Schools in Union County Public Schools

The Union County Public Schools district in North Carolina is home to 9 high-performing middle schools, with several standout institutions that consistently rank among the top in the state. Weddington Middle, Marvin Ridge Middle, and Cuthbertson Middle are the top-performing schools, boasting exceptional test scores, 5-star ratings, and statewide rankings in the top 10-27 middle schools.

The data reveals a clear correlation between socioeconomic status and academic performance, with the high-achieving schools serving student populations of higher socioeconomic status, as indicated by their low free/reduced lunch rates. Conversely, the lower-performing schools, such as Sun Valley Middle, Piedmont Middle, Monroe Middle, and East Union Middle, have much higher free/reduced lunch rates, suggesting a lower socioeconomic status among their student populations.

Interestingly, the data also suggests that simply increasing spending per student or reducing student-teacher ratios may not be the sole solutions to improving academic performance. The top-performing schools, Weddington Middle and Cuthbertson Middle, have the lowest spending per student and the highest student-teacher ratios, while the lower-performing schools have the highest spending and lowest student-teacher ratios. This indicates that other factors, such as school leadership, teacher quality, and resource allocation, likely play a significant role in driving academic success.