Bailey Middle

Bailey Middle is a large public middle school in Cornelius, NC, serving 1,315 students in grades 6–8 as part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The school is a top performer statewide, currently ranked 50th of 778 North Carolina middle schools, placing it in the 94th percentile with a 5-star rating. This is not a one-year spike: Bailey has earned 5 stars every year since 2015–2016. On 2025–2026 End-of-Grade tests, roughly 75–85% of students scored proficient in math and reading across all three grade levels, landing about 20 to 25 percentage points above state averages and even further above the CMS district average.

Within CMS, Bailey stands out clearly. Nearby schools like Francis Bradley Middle, Ridge Road Middle, and J. M. Alexander Middle trail well behind in both academic results and attendance. For example, Bailey's 8th grade science proficiency is 87.7%, compared to 68.8% at Francis Bradley. Bailey also outperforms schools with similar economic profiles, such as Woodland Heights Middle. However, when the comparison expands beyond CMS, two out-of-district neighbors post even stronger numbers: The Brawley School (ranked 26th in the state) and Harris Road Middle (ranked 27th) both edge out Bailey on most subjects with substantially lower chronic absenteeism.

Bailey also posts strong outcomes for student subgroups. Special education students rank in the 95th percentile statewide, and African American students in the 93rd. Chronic absenteeism, at 18.7%, is well below CMS and state averages. Areas worth monitoring include Hispanic, low-income, and English Language Learner students, where recent rankings have dipped. The school achieves its results with relatively lean per-student spending, making it an efficient choice among area public schools. While Bailey trails its own peak years (when it ranked in the low 20s statewide), it remains one of the strongest public middle schools in the Charlotte region.