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Union Elementary

Q: Is Union Elementary a good school?

Union Elementary ranks 302 nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

302^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Union Elementary is a PK-5 school in Vale, NC, serving 342 students in Lincoln County Schools, a district rated 4 stars and ranked 75th out of 246 statewide. For 2025-2026, the school ranks 302nd out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it at the 80th percentile with a 4-star rating. That is consistent with a strong record: Union earned 5-star ratings in 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2022-2023, rising as high as 105th statewide. After slipping to 200th and 356th in subsequent years, it recovered to 302nd in the latest data. These results are particularly notable because about 99% of Union students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024-2025.

Nearby schools all trail it in statewide ranking: Battleground Elementary follows at 374th, North Brook Elementary at 513th, Blackburn Elementary at 556th, and Banoak Elementary at 589th. S Ray Lowder Elementary (883rd), GE Massey Elementary (1,071st), Childers Elementary (1,078th), and Love Memorial Elementary (1,304th) sit further back. Its academic strength is balanced: in 2025-2026, every tested subject and grade level exceeded both district and state averages. Math proficiency across grades 3 through 5 ranges from 72.6% to 77.6%, compared with state averages of 61.4% to 66.4%. Fifth-grade science is an outlier at 89.8% proficient — more than 20 points above the state average of 67.7% — following a 91.1% result in 2022-2023, so this is a genuine program strength.

Union also gets strong results from students who often face the biggest challenges. Low-income students rank at the 81st percentile statewide, and special education students at the 80th. Female students rank at the 82nd percentile. Chronic absenteeism is just 15.7%, below the district rate of 17.2% and far below the state rate of 24.2%. The main soft spot is early reading: 3rd-grade reading dropped to 43.1% in 2024-2025 before recovering to 58.6% in 2025-2026. The big question is whether the school can return to the top 10% of the state, as it did in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Either way, it is delivering top-quintile results with a high-poverty population — something few nearby schools can claim.

342

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4875 Reepsville Rd
Vale, NC 28168-8634

(704) 276-1493

District: Lincoln County Schools

Students who attend Union Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	West Lincoln Middle
High:	West Lincoln High

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.6%

Hispanic:

4.4%

Two or more races:

4.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Union Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2016 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (72% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

302^nd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 14% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

75^th of 246Lincoln 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.0	302 of 1492	79.8%	★★★★☆
2025	72.4	356 of 1490	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	83.2	200 of 1505	86.7%	★★★★☆
2023	88.7	127 of 1502	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	83.8	197 of 1514	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	86.8	165 of 1489	88.9%	★★★★☆
2019	88.0	115 of 1473	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	89.2	105 of 1434	92.7%	★★★★★
2017	83.1	177 of 1429	87.6%	★★★★☆
2016	81.7	199 of 1425	86.0%	★★★★☆
2015	84.2	165 of 1440	88.5%	★★★★☆
2014	82.1	202 of 1390	85.5%	★★★★☆
2013	72.6	322 of 1403	77.0%	★★★★☆
2012	54.6	699 of 1388	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	64.2	539 of 1381	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.0	332 of 1363	75.6%	★★★★☆
2009	69.9	396 of 1354	70.8%	★★★★☆
2008	79.2	198 of 1324	85.0%	★★★★☆
2007	81.0	158 of 1293	87.8%	★★★★☆
2006	75.0	251 of 1276	80.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	70.8	150 of 897	83.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	77.0	261 of 1447	82.0%	★★★★☆
2025	74.9	287 of 1451	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	82.8	183 of 1455	87.4%	★★★★☆
2023	89.3	102 of 1459	93.0%	★★★★★
2022	82.8	189 of 1458	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	87.6	126 of 1440	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	86.9	114 of 1424	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	79.8	228 of 1405	83.8%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	325 of 743	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.6	315 of 710	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	354 of 669	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.2	322 of 500	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.4	276 of 1434	80.8%	★★★★☆
2025	70.3	306 of 1437	78.7%	★★★★☆
2024	80.0	155 of 1450	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	91.9	31 of 1437	97.8%	★★★★★
2022	79.1	150 of 1366	89.0%	★★★★☆
2021	88.4	68 of 1329	94.9%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	12 of 1361	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.9	24 of 1332	98.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	409 of 1451	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	66.5	430 of 1450	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.6	256 of 1464	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	84.9	156 of 1461	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	80.0	232 of 1464	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	81.0	219 of 1444	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.0	150 of 1430	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	88.7	109 of 1413	92.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.1	166 of 815	79.6%	★★★★☆
2025	69.9	130 of 821	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.0	57 of 801	92.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	457 of 1146	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.9	618 of 1172	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.1	422 of 1166	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.3	293 of 1183	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	63.9	393 of 1194	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.8	293 of 1172	75.0%	★★★★☆
2019	71.8	290 of 1183	75.5%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	222 of 1178	81.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Disabled (2018)83rd percentile-9 vs school

Female (2026)82nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)81st percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)80th percentile~ school

Male (2026)72nd percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile-20 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)56th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science90%+22 vs state

Mathematics75%+11 vs state

Reading63%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Union Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)				EOG Reading (2026)				EOG Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Union Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4875 Reepsville Rd	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 276-1493	342	22	15.2	99.1%	310 (90.6%)	2 (0.6%)	15 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.1%)	76	302^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	79.8%		72.4	356^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.1%	54	74.1	72.6	77.6		58.6	69.4	61.2		89.8	$10,166	$909	$9,257
Childers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2595 Rock Dam Road	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 736-9610	418	30	13.7	97.1%	306 (73.2%)	10 (2.4%)	81 (19.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.5%)	30.6	1078^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.7%		42.6	868^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.7%	210	40.7	49.3	66.2		33.9	40.3	43.1		69.2	$9,897	$1,409	$8,488
North Brook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	642 Hwy 274	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 276-2479	344	24	14.5	99.1%	296 (86.0%)	6 (1.7%)	23 (6.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.7%)	64.3	513^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.6%		63.1	510^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.8%	3	80.3	74.5	66.7		65.2	60.0	41.2		68.6	$9,492	$999	$8,493
Banoak Elementary	Public	K-6	7651 W NC 10 Hwy	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 462-2849	291	17	16.6	99.0%	230 (79.0%)	5 (1.7%)	25 (8.6%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.6%)	59.7	589^th of 1492 public elementary schools	60.5%		65	485^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.4%	104	67.7	62.3	68.4	56.5	58.1	69.8	47.4	54.3	76.3	$9,603	$1,411	$8,191
Battleground Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Jeb Seagle Dr	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 736-1626	420	32	13.1	97.1%	190 (45.2%)	66 (15.7%)	118 (28.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.7%)	72.2	374^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.9%		71.3	369^th of 1490 public elementary schools	75.2%	5	88.2	71.0	87.1		70.6	54.8	48.4		80.6	$9,785	$1,121	$8,664
Love Memorial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1463 Love Memorial Sch Rd	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-5649	315	25	12.4	99.0%	244 (77.5%)	10 (3.2%)	38 (12.1%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.0%)	18.7	1304^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.6%		24.6	1194^th of 1490 public elementary schools	19.9%	110	61.5	35.1	39.5		53.8	29.7	32.6		39.5	$12,264	$1,597	$10,666
Blackburn Elementary	Public	K-6	4377 W NC 10 Hwy	Newton	28658	Catawba County	Catawba County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 462-1344	484	28	17.3	99.0%	277 (57.2%)	24 (5.0%)	82 (16.9%)	60 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (8.1%)	61.5	556^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.7%		65.3	479^th of 1490 public elementary schools	67.9%	77	71.4	59.8	77.6	71.8	61.4	47.6	51.3	52.6	84.2	$9,091	$979	$8,112
GE Massey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	130 Newbold St	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-2322	370	27	13.6	99.2%	175 (47.3%)	63 (17.0%)	103 (27.8%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.9%)	31.1	1071^st of 1492 public elementary schools	28.2%		31.2	1070^th of 1490 public elementary schools	28.2%	1	70.2	55.4	41.5		43.9	41.5	41.5		53.7	$9,086	$1,289	$7,797
S Ray Lowder Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	350 Kennedy Dr	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-2741	306	23	13.4	97.4%	152 (49.7%)	50 (16.3%)	71 (23.2%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.8%)	41.8	883^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	40.8%		47.2	798^th of 1490 public elementary schools	46.4%	85	51.1	65.2	51.4		46.8	58.7	51.4		62.9	$10,042	$1,245	$8,797
W B Beam Intermediate School	Public	4-5	401 East First Street	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9114	191	10	18.4	98.4%	128 (67.0%)	23 (12.0%)	29 (15.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.2%)	43	860^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.4%		48.9	761^st of 1490 public elementary schools	48.9%	99		60.2	53.1			56.6	45.9		65.3	$9,330	$1,251	$8,080

Frequently Asked Questions about Union Elementary

Is Union Elementary a good school?

Union Elementary ranks 302^nd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Union Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 342 students attended Union Elementary.

What district is Union Elementary in?

Lincoln County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Union Elementary?

Students at Union Elementary are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Union Elementary attend?

Students who attend Union Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Lincoln Middle
High : West Lincoln High

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Schools in Vale, NC

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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.