Union Day School

Union Day School is a K-12 alternative school in Weddington, NC, serving 638 students across roughly 13 grade levels as its own standalone district. The school reports a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1, which is better than many nearby charters like Socrates Academy (19.6:1) and Telra Institute (16.8:1). Chronic absenteeism sits at 20.4%, below the state average of 24.2%, but noticeably higher than several high-performing neighbors such as Telra (5.8%) and Queen’s Grant Community School (9.7%).

Academically, Union Day shows a striking split. Reading and science are genuine strengths: 8th-grade reading proficiency hit 73.8% versus the state’s 56.1%, 8th-grade science reached 91.7%, and English II EOC results were 87.5% compared to 64.6% statewide. However, mathematics is a major trouble spot, particularly in late middle school and early high school. Only 34.4% of 8th-graders scored proficient in math (state: 53.0%), while Math I EOC proficiency was just 29.2% (state: 42.1%). Those numbers are far below nearby schools like Queen’s Grant Community School (69.0% Math I) and Socrates Academy (93.6% in 8th-grade math). Since the school’s reading and science outcomes are strong, this looks like a specific algebra-preparation or middle-school math instruction challenge rather than a schoolwide academic problem.

The graduation rate of 88.9% essentially matches the state average of 88.8%, though several nearby charters convert academic success into higher graduation rates, including Socrates Academy (94.1%) and Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail (93.2%). With only about 49 students per grade, single-year test scores can swing dramatically—for example, 3rd-grade math jumped from 44.4% to 71.4% in consecutive years. Parents should focus on multi-year trends rather than any single year’s results. The consistent pattern remains clear: Union Day excels in literacy and science, while upper-level math deserves closer investigation.