Elementary Schools in Kannapolis City Schools

The six K-5 elementary schools in Kannapolis City Schools serve approximately 2,484 students in the Kannapolis, North Carolina area. The district holds a 1-star rating and ranks at the 11th percentile statewide, yet individual schools show meaningful variation, and all six have free/reduced lunch rates between 98.99% and 99.37%.

Jackson Park Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide with 3 stars and an average EOG proficiency of 66% — far ahead of second-place North Kannapolis Elementary at 50%. Jackson Park posts exceptional 5th grade results (87.9% in both math and science) and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 15.6%, despite having the highest poverty rate and the lowest per-pupil spending ($9,913) in the group. North Kannapolis Elementary, meanwhile, improved from the 10th to the 27th percentile over two years and shines in 5th grade science at 80%. At the opposite end, Shady Brook Elementary ranks in the 9th percentile with 0 stars — the lowest proficiency average at 40% and the highest chronic absenteeism at 28.3%.

Nearly universal poverty does not explain these gaps: free/reduced lunch rates are almost identical across the six schools, yet proficiency spans from 40% to 66%. Likewise, higher spending and smaller classes at North Kannapolis ($14,411 per pupil and an 11:1 ratio) do not produce better results than Jackson Park, pointing to school-level practices rather than resources. Attendance and achievement also move together at the extremes: Jackson Park has the best attendance and best scores, while Shady Brook has the worst of both. Families should also know that several schools are slipping relative to the state — Forest Park Elementary and Fred L Wilson Elementary have dropped to the 14th and 12th percentiles, and Jackson Park has fallen from the 78th to the 60th percentile since 2023-24. Finally, with enrollments as small as 296 students, year-to-year proficiency can swing sharply, so it is wise for parents to weigh multi-year trends rather than single-year results.