Western Union Elementary

Summary:

Western Union Elementary is a public elementary school in Waxhaw, North Carolina, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Union County Public Schools district. The school has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking over the years, currently ranking 500th out of 1,505 North Carolina elementary schools and receiving a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

One of the key factors that sets Western Union Elementary apart is its relatively diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 67.81% White, 9.04% African American, 17.18% Hispanic, and other minority groups. This diversity is higher than some nearby schools like Rea View Elementary and Weddington Elementary, which have a higher percentage of White students. However, the school has seen an increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 25.78% in 2020-2021 to 38.88% in 2022-2023, suggesting a growing population of students from low-income families.

Academically, Western Union Elementary's performance has been mixed compared to the district and state averages. While the school's performance is generally above the state average, it often lags behind the high-performing nearby schools like Rea View Elementary, Weddington Elementary, Wesley Chapel Elementary, and New Town Elementary, which consistently rank among the top-performing elementary schools in North Carolina.


Detail:

Public K-5

 4111 Western Union Sch Rd
       Waxhaw, NC  28173-9211


(704) 296-6355

District: Union County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
500th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,869 Help


Students who attend Western Union Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Parkwood Middle
High:    Parkwood High

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  553

Racial breakdown:

White:
67.8%
Hispanic:
17.2%
African American:
9.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  38.9% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Western Union Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Western Union Elementary ranks better than 66.8% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 18th among 29 ranked elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 64.28. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67.8%), Hispanic (17.2%), African American (9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 38.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Western Union Elementary is 15.8. 18 elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Western Union Elementary employs 35 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Western Union Elementary is $9,869, which is the 13th highest among 29 elementary schools in the Union County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Western Union Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Western Union Elementary 500th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Western Union Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Western Union Elementary?

Rank History for Western Union Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 54.95 624th 1276 51.1%
2007 51.99 705th 1293 45.5%
2008 52.71 672nd 1324 49.2%
2009 80.57 190th 1354 86.0%
2010 66.61 480th 1363 64.8%
2011 63.67 554th 1381 59.9%
2012 76.89 264th 1388 81.0%
2013 55.07 583rd 1403 58.4%
2014 38.63 872nd 1390 37.3%
2015 62.37 530th 1440 63.2%
2016 78.08 268th 1425 81.2%
2017 74.92 325th 1429 77.3%
2018 71.96 366th 1434 74.5%
2019 73.63 334th 1473 77.3%
2021 64.28 493rd 1489 66.9%
2022 46.10 809th 1514 46.6%
2023 69.19 419th 1502 72.1%
2024 64.28 500th 1505 66.8%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 13.67 128th 133 3.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.10 430th 1332 67.7%
2019 65.42 386th 1361 71.6%
2021 54.97 494th 1329 62.8%
2022 25.17 1139th 1366 16.6%
2023 64.09 426th 1437 70.4%
2024 59.52 522nd 1450 64.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.05 374th 1405 73.4%
2019 77.51 253rd 1424 82.2%
2021 54.10 621st 1440 56.9%
2022 42.75 835th 1458 42.7%
2023 68.77 405th 1459 72.2%
2024 62.14 514th 1455 64.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.96 537th 897 40.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 58.71 309th 582 46.9%
2024 51.10 459th 669 31.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.48 364th 1413 74.2%
2019 67.79 413th 1430 71.1%
2021 70.32 382nd 1444 73.5%
2022 48.46 747th 1464 49.0%
2023 66.87 428th 1461 70.7%
2024 64.32 484th 1464 66.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.68 328th 927 64.6%
2022 32.29 666th 927 28.2%
2024 62.84 260th 924 71.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.61 230th 851 73.0%
2019 78.44 105th 865 87.9%
2021 66.73 192nd 843 77.2%
2022 46.16 456th 893 48.9%
2023 61.17 286th 915 68.7%
2024 41.37 575th 951 39.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Western Union Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.90 470th 1178 60.1%
2019 61.41 443rd 1183 62.6%
2021 51.85 545th 1172 53.5%
2022 34.02 852nd 1194 28.6%
2023 49.07 624th 1183 47.3%
2024 51.92 577th 1166 50.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary 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.

Western Union Elementary 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: 4.7)
67%

33%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, May 12, 2017

Open Quote This school is like no other. They are a family. When you walk in the front door, you can feel the warmth from the office staff, administration, teachers, etc. I feel my children had a great educational start thanks to this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, May 15, 2016

Open Quote Although this is one of the oldest schools in Union county, the staff makes up for it through their caring ways of each student. There is smaller class sizes for more individualized attention for each student. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Open Quote The teachers and staff are so caring at this school. We feel like this is a great fit for our family. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Western Union Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 306 106 1 2 2 n/a n/a -2 415
1989 318 99 0 1 1 n/a n/a 0 419
1990 325 111 0 1 2 n/a n/a 0 439
1991 348 108 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 457
1992 373 98 1 1 1 n/a n/a 2 476
1993 369 95 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 467
1994 414 100 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 517
1995 480 101 4 5 5 n/a n/a 0 595
1996 480 101 4 5 5 n/a n/a 0 595
1997 471 94 1 5 4 n/a n/a 0 575
1998 472 94 1 13 1 n/a n/a -13 568
1999 463 116 1 10 2 n/a n/a 0 592
2000 489 134 1 9 1 n/a n/a 0 634
2001 475 116 2 9 1 n/a n/a 0 603
2002 481 131 1 15 1 n/a n/a 0 629
2003 481 131 1 15 1 n/a n/a 0 629
2004 496 141 2 23 2 n/a n/a 0 664
2005 482 125 2 26 8 n/a n/a 0 643
2006 455 103 3 32 3 n/a n/a 0 596
2007 466 97 3 32 3 n/a n/a 13 614
2008 394 82 2 29 1 n/a n/a 16 524
2009 366 87 2 28 1 n/a n/a 0 484
2010 337 87 1 29 1 n/a n/a 0 455
2011 320 58 2 31 1 0 17 0 429
2012 310 51 0 39 1 0 17 0 418
2013 293 54 0 39 1 0 15 0 402
2014 299 55 0 28 3 0 21 0 406
2015 495 62 7 56 1 1 38 0 660
2016 522 64 11 63 3 0 41 0 704
2017 445 61 6 59 2 0 25 0 598
2018 443 65 6 58 1 0 38 0 611
2019 363 52 3 70 1 0 30 0 519
2020 349 51 0 73 1 0 33 0 507
2021 292 44 0 77 1 0 36 0 450
2022 346 51 0 87 1 1 36 0 522
2023 375 50 1 95 2 1 29 0 553

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 Western Union Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 415 23.0 18.0 20
1989 419 23.0 18.2 19.8
1990 439 23.0 19.0 18.7
1991 457 23.0 19.8 17.9
1992 476 27.0 17.6 19.1
1993 467 33.0 14.2 25.3
1994 517 34.0 15.2 10.1
1995 595 37.0 16.1 23.9
1996 595 37.0 16.1 23.9
1997 575 37.0 15.5 24.9
1998 568 34.0 16.7 22.2
1999 592 37.0 16.0 29.6
2000 634 37.0 17.1 30.6
2001 603 37.0 16.3 33.3
2002 629 37.0 17.0 34
2003 629 37.0 17.0 34
2004 664 45.0 14.8 44.1
2005 643 45.0 14.3 40.7
2006 596 45.0 13.2 33.7
2007 614 n/a n/a 33.6
2008 524 40.0 13.1 n/a
2009 484 40.0 12.1 n/a
2010 455 34.7 13.1 44.4
2011 429 28.0 15.3 45.2
2012 418 28.9 14.4 50.5
2013 402 31.8 12.6 53.2
2014 406 34.0 11.9 53
2015 660 48.0 13.7 37.1
2016 704 47.0 14.9 35.1
2017 598 42.5 14.0 34.3
2018 611 37.5 16.2 31.3
2019 519 34.8 14.9 34.9
2020 507 34.9 14.5 28.6
2021 450 34.0 13.2 25.8
2022 522 35.0 14.9 25.1
2023 553 35.0 15.8 38.9

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 Western Union Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 415 23.0 18.0 20
1989 419 23.0 18.2 19.8
1990 439 23.0 19.0 18.7
1991 457 23.0 19.8 17.9
1992 476 27.0 17.6 19.1
1993 467 33.0 14.2 25.3
1994 517 34.0 15.2 10.1
1995 595 37.0 16.1 23.9
1996 595 37.0 16.1 23.9
1997 575 37.0 15.5 24.9
1998 568 34.0 16.7 22.2
1999 592 37.0 16.0 29.6
2000 634 37.0 17.1 30.6
2001 603 37.0 16.3 33.3
2002 629 37.0 17.0 34
2003 629 37.0 17.0 34
2004 664 45.0 14.8 44.1
2005 643 45.0 14.3 40.7
2006 596 45.0 13.2 33.7
2007 614 n/a n/a 33.6
2008 524 40.0 13.1 n/a
2009 484 40.0 12.1 n/a
2010 455 34.7 13.1 44.4
2011 429 28.0 15.3 45.2
2012 418 28.9 14.4 50.5
2013 402 31.8 12.6 53.2
2014 406 34.0 11.9 53
2015 660 48.0 13.7 37.1
2016 704 47.0 14.9 35.1
2017 598 42.5 14.0 34.3
2018 611 37.5 16.2 31.3
2019 519 34.8 14.9 34.9
2020 507 34.9 14.5 28.6
2021 450 34.0 13.2 25.8
2022 522 35.0 14.9 25.1
2023 553 35.0 15.8 38.9

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 Western Union Elementary

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $511 (5.2%) $9,358 (94.8%) $9,869

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Western Union Elementary

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 334th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 419th of 1502 Elementary schools
 5.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Western Union Elementary)73.666
 7.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)77.477
 0.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Western Union Elementary)65.553.2
 12.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)67.559.9
 7.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Western Union Elementary)52.467.3
 14.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)75.375.7
 0.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Western Union Elementary)7258.2
 13.8%
   4th Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)72.668.3
 4.3%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Western Union Elementary)66.772.5
 5.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Union County Public Schools)77.875.6
 2.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Western Union Elementary)69.857.1
 12.7%
   5th Grade Reading (Union County Public Schools)69.761.6
 8.1%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Western Union Elementary)92.770.3
 22.4%
   5th Grade Science (Union County Public Schools)84.978.4
 6.5%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students519553
 6.6%
African American5250
 3.8%
American Indian12
 100%
Asian31
 66.7%
Hispanic7095
 35.7%
Pacific Islander01
White363375
 3.3%
Two or More Races3029
 3.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients34.9%38.9%
 4%


Schools Near Western Union Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Western Union Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 553 students attended Western Union Elementary.

Western Union Elementary ranks 500th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Western Union Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Parkwood Middle
High : Parkwood High

Students at Western Union Elementary are 68% White, 17% Hispanic, 9% African American, 5% Two or more races.


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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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