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Royal Oaks School of the Arts

Public Grades K-8
562nd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 62% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Royal Oaks School of the Arts is a K–8 school serving 661 students in Kannapolis, NC, within Cabarrus County Schools; about 99.5% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is an improvement success story: its statewide ranking climbed from roughly the 10th percentile a decade ago to the 62nd percentile today, transforming from one of North Carolina's lowest-performing schools into a solid, consistently three-star school while serving an almost entirely low-income student body.

Royal Oaks' greatest academic strength is its middle school. While 3rd–5th grade reading and math trail the Cabarrus district average (though they usually meet or exceed state averages), students make sharp gains by 6th–8th grade. In 2025–2026, 8th grade math proficiency reached 80% versus the district's 61.6%; 8th grade reading reached 85.7% versus 65.3%; and 8th grade science proficiency was an extraordinary 97.1% — nearly every student. Sixth- and 7th-grade math and reading also beat district and state averages. The school serves historically underserved groups well too: African American students rank at the 78th percentile statewide, low-income students at the 71st, and Gifted/Talented students ranked 4th of 710 schools statewide in 2024–2025.

Compared with nearby schools, Royal Oaks outpaces every high-poverty peer. It clearly surpasses W M Irvin Elementary (36th percentile) and Winecoff Elementary (32nd), both with nearly identical poverty rates, and far outperforms Kannapolis City schools like Shady Brook Elementary (9th), Fred L Wilson Elementary (12th), and GW Carver Elementary (19th). The nearest K–8 peer, Concord Lake STEAM Academy, wins some elementary comparisons, but Royal Oaks takes middle school decisively — including 97.1% versus 83.7% in 8th grade science. More affluent Charles E Boger Elementary posts higher early-grade scores with less than half the poverty rate. Two challenges remain: chronic absenteeism near 20% (better than the state's 24.2% but above the district average) and special education support, the school's weakest subgroup area at the 42nd percentile.

661
Students ?
14.8
Student/teacher ratio ?
99.5%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 608 Dakota Street
       Kannapolis, NC  28083-6935

(704) 260-6310

District: Cabarrus County Schools


Students who attend Royal Oaks School of the Arts usually attend:

Middle:    Concord Middle
High:    Concord High
Racial breakdown:

African American:
39.0%
White:
31.0%
Hispanic:
20.6%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Royal Oaks School of the Arts to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 11th percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 59% meeting standards)
✓Ranking is trending up — up 51 percentile points since 2016
✓Above the North Carolina median (62nd percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school67%
District avg68%
North Carolina avg59%
Elementary school
562nd of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 38%▲ up 52 pts since 2016
From bottom 11% (2016) to top 38% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
67th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 9%▲ up 39 pts since 2022
From top 48% (2022) to top 9% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
67th of 246Cabarrus County Schools among North Carolina districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202661.1562 of 149262.3%★★★☆☆
202563.7503 of 149066.2%★★★☆☆
202457.5624 of 150558.5%★★★☆☆
202361.3557 of 150262.9%★★★☆☆
202250.6734 of 151451.5%★★★☆☆
202127.91059 of 148928.9%★☆☆☆☆
201916.01305 of 147311.4%★☆☆☆☆
201813.31294 of 14349.8%☆☆☆☆☆
201718.21234 of 142913.6%★☆☆☆☆
201614.61275 of 142510.5%★☆☆☆☆
201511.01327 of 14407.8%☆☆☆☆☆
201428.71028 of 139026.0%★☆☆☆☆
201328.21056 of 140324.7%★☆☆☆☆
201212.21300 of 13886.3%☆☆☆☆☆
201115.81258 of 13818.9%☆☆☆☆☆
201017.81202 of 136311.8%★☆☆☆☆
200925.11091 of 135419.4%★☆☆☆☆
200826.71055 of 132420.3%★☆☆☆☆
200729.31031 of 129320.3%★☆☆☆☆
200646.9764 of 127640.1%★★☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202669.7195 of 90378.4%★★★★☆
202561.4269 of 91870.7%★★★★☆
202465.3235 of 92474.6%★★★★☆
202357.5338 of 93363.8%★★★☆☆
202248.1428 of 92753.8%★★★☆☆
202135.5566 of 89636.8%★★☆☆☆
201929.5745 of 94921.5%★☆☆☆☆
201821.8805 of 92713.2%★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202646.7245 of 51952.8%★★★☆☆
202538.1345 of 56338.7%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202664.2471 of 144767.4%★★★☆☆
202572.5325 of 145177.6%★★★★☆
202464.0473 of 145567.5%★★★☆☆
202360.8542 of 145962.9%★★★☆☆
202252.1687 of 145852.9%★★★☆☆
202129.91011 of 144029.8%★☆☆☆☆
201926.61137 of 142420.2%★☆☆☆☆
201818.21235 of 140512.1%★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202668.6127 of 74382.9%★★★★☆
202573.64 of 71099.4%★★★★★
202469.872 of 66989.2%★★★★☆
202373.21 of 58299.8%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202659.0341 of 98165.2%★★★☆☆
202565.7258 of 96173.2%★★★★☆
202457.0367 of 95161.4%★★★☆☆
202380.998 of 91589.3%★★★★☆
202268.1198 of 89377.8%★★★★☆
202142.6456 of 84345.9%★★☆☆☆
201915.2827 of 8654.4%☆☆☆☆☆
201812.2824 of 8513.2%☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202663.6415 of 143471.1%★★★★☆
202572.6270 of 143781.2%★★★★☆
202460.4494 of 145065.9%★★★☆☆
202367.3369 of 143774.3%★★★★☆
202256.7526 of 136661.5%★★★☆☆
202128.0995 of 132925.1%★☆☆☆☆
201921.21183 of 136113.1%★☆☆☆☆
201825.81089 of 133218.2%★☆☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202654.5646 of 145155.5%★★★☆☆
202548.1763 of 145047.4%★★☆☆☆
202447.8788 of 146446.2%★★☆☆☆
202360.6552 of 146162.2%★★★☆☆
202248.7743 of 146449.2%★★☆☆☆
202127.01044 of 144427.7%★☆☆☆☆
20199.31357 of 14305.1%☆☆☆☆☆
201813.21306 of 14137.6%☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202639.0476 of 81541.6%★★☆☆☆
202547.9354 of 82156.9%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202664.4398 of 114665.3%★★★☆☆
202577.2222 of 117281.1%★★★★☆
202464.3389 of 116666.6%★★★☆☆
202365.5376 of 118368.2%★★★☆☆
202254.7547 of 119454.2%★★★☆☆
202136.4777 of 117233.7%★★☆☆☆
201930.6925 of 118321.8%★☆☆☆☆
201853.6586 of 117850.3%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202688.767 of 77891.4%★★★★★
202582.6112 of 77385.5%★★★★☆
202478.2140 of 79382.3%★★★★☆
202360.9284 of 78463.8%★★★☆☆
202250.5378 of 78651.9%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202691.332 of 55394.2%★★★★★
202580.860 of 54689.0%★★★★☆
202483.063 of 56088.8%★★★★☆
202351.1220 of 55960.6%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202686.967 of 73190.8%★★★★★
202579.3128 of 73382.5%★★★★☆
202472.5171 of 73876.8%★★★★☆
202357.6297 of 73159.4%★★★☆☆
202247.6372 of 73349.2%★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202576.926 of 45894.3%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202278.765 of 54188.0%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202691.632 of 72595.6%★★★★★
202581.971 of 72990.3%★★★★★
202482.270 of 74390.6%★★★★★
202364.4195 of 73573.5%★★★★☆
202239.1422 of 68938.8%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202688.367 of 73690.9%★★★★★
202582.4105 of 73385.7%★★★★☆
202481.0116 of 75184.6%★★★★☆
202356.4295 of 74760.5%★★★☆☆
202250.7353 of 74852.8%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202686.269 of 64489.3%★★★★☆
202586.276 of 64988.3%★★★★☆
202474.8147 of 65277.5%★★★★☆
202363.9223 of 65666.0%★★★☆☆
202240.1402 of 65838.9%★★☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Gifted and Talented (2026)83rd percentile+21 vs school
African American (2026)78th percentile+16 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)71st percentile+9 vs school
Female (2026)67th percentile+5 vs school
White (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school
Hispanic (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school
Male (2026)55th percentile-7 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)53rd percentile-10 vs school
Special Education (2026)42nd percentile-21 vs school
Middle school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile+4 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)94th percentile+9 vs school
African American (2026)94th percentile+3 vs school
Male (2026)91st percentile~ school
Female (2026)91st percentile~ school
White (2026)89th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2022)88th percentile+36 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Science80%+12 vs state
Mathematics68%+8 vs state
Reading63%+7 vs state

1.0
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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, October 19, 2012

Open Quote I have a son that is now in the fourth grade at this school and he is not on target with his reading and comprehension. I have tried to get the school to get my son where he needs to be in reading and comprehension and it seems that they care much more about a piece of paper being signed by me than working with him in reading and comprehension. Now I have to pay an outside source a lot of money to get my son on grade level where the school and all the teachers have failed him. I did speak to the Principle who would like me to come in so he can explain what is expected of me as a parent. I read the student hand book and all the other paperwork that has come home. I KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME. Here is what I expect of those of you that my TAX DOLLARS are paying for: Get my son on grade level reading and comprehension. Do not ever tell me again that my child is useless unless medicated. Do not tell me that he will just eventually get it. YOU PEOPLE WENT TO COLLEGE TO TEACH KIDS AND YOU ARE FAILING A LOT OF THEM BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT RESEARCH BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OR MEDICAL PROBLEMS NOR WORK WITH THE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP. IF YOU ONLY WENT INTO TEACHING TO TEACH THE GIFTED KIDS THEN YOU SHOULD MAYBE NOT BE TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALL KIDS ARE SPECIAL AND THEY CAN ALL BE TAUGHT IT IS UP TO YOU TO TEACH THEM. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Oaks School of the Arts

Students at Royal Oaks School of the Arts are 39% African American, 31% White, 21% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

In the 2024-25 school year, 661 students attended Royal Oaks School of the Arts.

Students who attend Royal Oaks School of the Arts usually go on to attend:

Middle : Concord Middle
High : Concord High

Royal Oaks School of the Arts ranks 562nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Royal Oaks School of the Arts!



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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026
2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025
2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025


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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