Concord Lake STEAM Academy

Concord Lake STEAM Academy is a single K–8 school serving 856 students in Kannapolis, NC, and despite 95.79% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, it outperforms state averages in 12 of 14 tested subject-grade combinations. The school, which shares its name with its district, has improved its statewide rank from the 61st percentile in 2023–2024 to the 68th percentile in 2025–2026 (478 out of 1,492 schools, 3 stars).

Reading is the school’s strongest subject, with an average proficiency of 67.5% versus 56.0% statewide, and middle-grade reading is particularly exceptional—8th grade hits 79.6% proficiency, a 23.5-point gap above the state average. Science is another signature strength, especially 8th-grade science at 83.7% proficiency, likely reflecting the STEAM focus. Math also exceeds state averages overall (65.2% vs. 59.9%), led by strong 3rd- and 4th-grade results. The school improved dramatically year over year across all subjects, including a 13.1-point jump in science. The main weak spots are 3rd-grade reading (52.9% vs. 55.6%) and 5th-grade math (57.6% vs. 62.9%), both below state averages and important early-literacy and middle-elementary priorities.

Chronic absenteeism is a risk factor at 25.6%, slightly above the state average of 24.2%, meaning about one in four students misses significant school time. Even so, the school achieves above-average results, suggesting effective instructional strategies despite high economic need. The reported student/teacher ratio of 48.8 appears abnormally high and likely needs verification—that would imply fewer than 20 teachers for the entire campus. For parents, Concord Lake STEAM Academy stands out as a high-poverty school with strong upper-grade reading and science outcomes, a rising statewide rank, and evidence that students catch up over time; reducing absenteeism and strengthening 3rd-grade reading would make it even stronger.