Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Summary:

Central Academy of Technology and Arts is a high-performing public high school in Monroe, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 and part of the Union County Public Schools district. With consistently strong academic achievement, a diverse student population, and specialized programs, this school stands out as one of the top-ranked high schools in the state.

Central Academy's academic performance is truly exceptional, with proficiency rates on end-of-course exams that far exceed state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 92.1% proficiency in Biology, 95.8% in English II, 84.9% in Math I, and 93.7% in Math III, compared to the state averages of 53.4%, 59.7%, 36.9%, and 57.6%, respectively. The school's diverse student population, with 64.31% White, 9.26% African American, 12.91% Hispanic, and 9.14% Asian students, also contributes to its strong performance across different subgroups, ranking among the top high schools in the state for Asian, African American, and multi-racial students.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Weddington High, Central Academy stands out as the highest-performing, with significantly higher test scores and statewide rankings. This consistent high performance, along with the school's specialized gifted and talented program, make Central Academy of Technology and Arts a standout institution within the Union County Public Schools district and the state of North Carolina.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 600 Brewer Dr
       Monroe, NC  28112-6110


(704) 296-3088

District: Union County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
33rd of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,519 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  15.9 Help
Number of students:  821

Racial breakdown:

White:
64.3%
Hispanic:
12.9%
African American:
9.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  15.8% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Central Academy of Technology and Arts ranks better than 94.8% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2nd among 12 ranked high schools in the Union County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.28. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64.3%), Hispanic (12.9%), African American (9.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 15.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Academy of Technology and Arts is 15.9, which is the 5th best among 12 high schools in the Union County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Central Academy of Technology and Arts employs 51.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Academy of Technology and Arts is $9,519, which is the 5th highest among 12 high schools in the Union County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Academy of Technology and Arts:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Academy of Technology and Arts 33rd of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Central Academy of Technology and Arts in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Union County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Union County Public Schools 53rd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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Rank History for all students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2007 62.85 117th 453 74.2%
2008 71.77 58th 477 87.8%
2009 66.53 103rd 490 79.0%
2010 78.92 23rd 499 95.4%
2011 79.94 27th 506 94.7%
2012 79.72 4th 502 99.2%
2013 89.04 7th 505 98.6%
2014 94.13 3rd 451 99.3%
2015 92.09 5th 531 99.1%
2016 91.65 1st 507 99.8%
2019 95.34 12th 514 97.7%
2021 96.49 18th 594 97.0%
2022 93.40 40th 621 93.6%
2023 94.28 36th 626 94.2%
2024 94.28 33rd 640 94.8%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 99.47 1st 195 99.5%
2023 98.77 1st 249 99.6%
2024 97.82 3rd 261 98.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.44 3rd 424 99.3%
2019 96.72 8th 446 98.2%
2021 98.34 7th 432 98.4%
2022 85.38 75th 544 86.2%
2023 92.44 65th 597 89.1%
2024 93.45 66th 613 89.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 97.54 2nd 475 99.6%
2021 95.57 7th 475 98.5%
2022 90.75 53rd 594 91.1%
2023 92.92 38th 588 93.5%
2024 93.90 32nd 602 94.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 79.47 26th 325 92.0%
2021 82.61 10th 337 97.0%
2022 80.51 40th 398 89.9%
2024 77.39 64th 403 84.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 94.55 11th 488 97.7%
2021 97.00 7th 481 98.5%
2022 94.77 43rd 585 92.6%
2023 93.48 52nd 602 91.4%
2024 94.20 46th 607 92.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 90.87 2nd 89 97.8%
2021 90.77 2nd 83 97.6%
2022 88.34 5th 91 94.5%
2023 90.51 2nd 98 98.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 99.17 4th 369 98.9%
2021 95.46 8th 364 97.8%
2022 93.02 37th 430 91.4%
2023 97.36 22nd 434 94.9%
2024 97.65 24th 437 94.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.86 5th 340 98.5%
2019 98.33 5th 354 98.6%
2021 97.15 6th 370 98.4%
2022 96.22 24th 436 94.5%
2023 93.36 36th 449 92.0%
2024 94.35 36th 454 92.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 92.94 9th 444 98.0%
2021 95.17 8th 439 98.2%
2022 91.47 44th 534 91.8%
2023 91.16 45th 537 91.6%
2024 91.29 44th 553 92.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Central Academy of Technology and Arts Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, March 22, 2015

Open Quote My son was in CATA for one year. The teachers, staff and guidance counsellors are very helpful. We wish we didn't have to move. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 30 8 0 0 0 n/a n/a -2 36
1989 28 8 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 36
1990 19 4 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 24
1991 28 5 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 33
1992 18 7 0 0 0 n/a n/a -4 21
1993 24 1 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 26
1994 19 4 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 23
1995 11 5 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 17
1996 11 5 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 17
1997 13 5 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 18
1998 10 5 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 15
1999 9 5 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 14
2000 6 2 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 9
2001 4 1 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 6
2002 5 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 6
2003 5 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 6
2004 1 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1
2005 3 2 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 5
2006 2 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 3
2007 378 80 5 44 0 n/a n/a 12 519
2008 354 72 9 40 0 n/a n/a 16 491
2009 498 123 11 60 1 n/a n/a 0 693
2010 547 120 15 76 2 n/a n/a 0 760
2011 592 97 17 96 2 0 11 0 815
2012 619 120 17 100 0 0 13 0 869
2013 620 107 13 99 0 0 16 0 855
2014 603 102 10 92 1 0 14 0 822
2015 582 99 10 91 2 0 18 0 802
2016 589 86 12 86 3 0 17 0 793
2017 616 93 16 89 4 0 16 0 834
2018 631 89 23 101 3 0 19 0 866
2019 627 82 31 103 3 0 25 0 871
2020 584 76 36 100 2 0 59 0 857
2021 586 74 38 107 2 0 36 0 843
2022 550 79 42 100 1 0 37 0 809
2023 528 76 75 106 0 0 36 0 821

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 36 20.0 1.8 n/a
1989 36 20.0 1.8 n/a
1990 24 20.0 1.2 n/a
1991 33 20.0 1.6 0
1992 21 30.0 0.7 n/a
1993 26 37.0 0.7 n/a
1994 23 35.0 0.7 n/a
1995 17 31.0 0.5 n/a
1996 17 31.0 0.5 n/a
1997 18 29.0 0.6 n/a
1998 15 34.0 0.4 86.7
1999 14 29.0 0.5 n/a
2000 9 29.0 0.3 0
2001 6 29.0 0.2 0
2002 6 29.0 0.2 50
2003 6 29.0 0.2 50
2004 1 29.0 0.0 n/a
2005 5 29.0 0.2 n/a
2006 3 29.0 0.1 n/a
2007 519 35.8 14.5 16.6
2008 491 38.5 12.8 n/a
2009 693 44.8 15.5 n/a
2010 760 49.7 15.2 25.8
2011 815 52.6 15.4 25.8
2012 869 45.5 19.0 26.6
2013 855 49.9 17.1 24.7
2014 822 51.3 16.0 24.3
2015 802 52.0 15.4 21.9
2016 793 54.0 14.6 19.3
2017 834 51.8 16.0 18.8
2018 866 49.7 17.4 17.1
2019 871 49.4 17.6 13.9
2020 857 49.1 17.4 11.6
2021 843 47.6 17.7 9
2022 809 44.8 18.0 6.1
2023 821 51.5 15.9 15.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 36 20.0 1.8 n/a
1989 36 20.0 1.8 n/a
1990 24 20.0 1.2 n/a
1991 33 20.0 1.6 0
1992 21 30.0 0.7 n/a
1993 26 37.0 0.7 n/a
1994 23 35.0 0.7 n/a
1995 17 31.0 0.5 n/a
1996 17 31.0 0.5 n/a
1997 18 29.0 0.6 n/a
1998 15 34.0 0.4 86.7
1999 14 29.0 0.5 n/a
2000 9 29.0 0.3 0
2001 6 29.0 0.2 0
2002 6 29.0 0.2 50
2003 6 29.0 0.2 50
2004 1 29.0 0.0 n/a
2005 5 29.0 0.2 n/a
2006 3 29.0 0.1 n/a
2007 519 35.8 14.5 16.6
2008 491 38.5 12.8 n/a
2009 693 44.8 15.5 n/a
2010 760 49.7 15.2 25.8
2011 815 52.6 15.4 25.8
2012 869 45.5 19.0 26.6
2013 855 49.9 17.1 24.7
2014 822 51.3 16.0 24.3
2015 802 52.0 15.4 21.9
2016 793 54.0 14.6 19.3
2017 834 51.8 16.0 18.8
2018 866 49.7 17.4 17.1
2019 871 49.4 17.6 13.9
2020 857 49.1 17.4 11.6
2021 843 47.6 17.7 9
2022 809 44.8 18.0 6.1
2023 821 51.5 15.9 15.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $416 (4.4%) $9,102 (95.6%) $9,519

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Academy of Technology and Arts

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 12th of 514 High schoolsRanks 36th of 626 High schools
 3.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course English II (Central Academy of Technology and Arts)93.495.4
 2%
   End of Course English II (Union County Public Schools)73.974.1
 0.2%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Central Academy of Technology and Arts)94.381.8
 12.5%
   End of Course Math I (Union County Public Schools)61.658.4
 3.2%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Central Academy of Technology and Arts)91.992.3
 0.4%
   End of Course Math III (Union County Public Schools)6376.5
 13.5%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students871821
 5.7%
African American8276
 7.3%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian3175
 141.9%
Hispanic103106
 2.9%
Pacific Islander00
White627528
 15.8%
Two or More Races2536
 44%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients13.9%15.8%
 1.9%


Schools Near Central Academy of Technology and Arts









Frequently Asked Questions about Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts are 64% White, 13% Hispanic, 9% African American, 9% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Yes. Central Academy of Technology and Arts ranks in the top 5.2% of North Carolina high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 821 students attended Central Academy of Technology and Arts.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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