Photo: Bbarnette · CC BY-SA 4.0Kannapolis’s public schools outscore 65% of North Carolina districts
58% of students in Kannapolis’s public schools are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Kannapolis, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.
From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Kannapolis’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 308 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Kannapolis’s, its schools beat 77%, higher than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 55% and math 58% across both districts in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Cabarrus County Schools spends $11,026 per student and Kannapolis City Schools $12,565, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Concord Lake STEAM Academy, Christ the King Catholic High School (private), Faith Christian Academy (private) and North Kannapolis Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Kannapolis’s grade
B+: better than 65% of North Carolina school districts, #75 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Kannapolis, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Kannapolis · depends on your address
Charles E Boger Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 895 students · 16:1 students per teacher
North Kannapolis Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 296 students · 11:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
Northwest Cabarrus Middle
Grades 6–8 · 825 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Royal Oaks Elementary
Grades K–8 · 661 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Kannapolis Middle School 6
Grades 6 · 358 students · 20:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
Northwest Cabarrus Middle
Grades 6–8 · 825 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Kannapolis Middle School 7/8
Grades 7–8 · 782 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Royal Oaks Elementary
Grades K–8 · 661 students · 15:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
Northwest Cabarrus Middle
Grades 6–8 · 825 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Kannapolis Middle School 7/8
Grades 7–8 · 782 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Royal Oaks Elementary
Grades K–8 · 661 students · 15:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
A L Brown High
Grades 9–12 · 1,753 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Northwest Cabarrus High
Grades 9–12 · 1,142 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll
Grades 9–12 · 234 students · 24:1 students per teacher · in Concord
10th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
A L Brown High
Grades 9–12 · 1,753 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Northwest Cabarrus High
Grades 9–12 · 1,142 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll
Grades 9–12 · 234 students · 24:1 students per teacher · in Concord
11th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
A L Brown High
Grades 9–12 · 1,753 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Northwest Cabarrus High
Grades 9–12 · 1,142 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll
Grades 9–12 · 234 students · 24:1 students per teacher · in Concord
12th grade in Kannapolis · depends on your address
A L Brown High
Grades 9–12 · 1,753 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Northwest Cabarrus High
Grades 9–12 · 1,142 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll
Grades 9–12 · 234 students · 24:1 students per teacher · in Concord
Kannapolis runs its own schools through grade 12 (Cabarrus County Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Kannapolis City Schools. Parts of Kannapolis (9% of its land) are served by Rowan-Salisbury Schools instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Kannapolis
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Kannapolis vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Kannapolis’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Kannapolis | B+ | Cabarrus County Schools PK–12 · Kannapolis City Schools PK–12 |
| Concord | B+ | Cabarrus County Schools |
| Landis | C | Rowan-Salisbury Schools |
| Davidson | B− | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
Every school in Kannapolis
18 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Kannapolis’s schools
Are Kannapolis’s schools good?
By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Kannapolis children attend outscore 65% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #75 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 77%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Kannapolis in?
Two districts: Cabarrus County Schools runs grades PK–12, and Kannapolis City Schools runs grades PK–12.
Where do Kannapolis kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: A L Brown High, Northwest Cabarrus High and Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll.
What is Kannapolis’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Cabarrus County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Kannapolis spend per student?
$11,026 in Cabarrus County Schools and $12,565 in Kannapolis City Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Kannapolis?
Yes: Christ the King Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 416 students), Faith Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 90 students) and North Kannapolis Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–6, 48 students). Kannapolis also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Kannapolis families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Kannapolis → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.