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Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Public Grades 9-12

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 94% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Central Academy of Technology and Arts (CATA) is a high school in Monroe, NC, serving 875 students in grades 9–12 as part of Union County Public Schools, and it ranks among the strongest high schools in the state. CATA currently ranks 43rd out of 662 North Carolina high schools, placing it in the 94th percentile with a 5-star rating. It has a history of elite performance, reaching as high as #1 in North Carolina in 2015–16 and staying near the top of the state over the past decade.

CATA's academic proficiency is dramatically above state and district averages. In the most recent results, proficiency rates were 96.4% in Biology (vs. 58.5% statewide), 97.4% in English II (vs. 64.6% statewide), 97.7% in Math III (vs. 68.9% statewide), and 82.8% in Math I (vs. 42.1% statewide). Even CATA's lowest area, Math I, sits 41 points above the state average. Chronic absenteeism is also remarkably low at just 6.1%, compared to 14.6% for the district and 24.2% for the state. The student-teacher ratio of 15.8 is favorable when compared to many nearby high schools, including Cuthbertson High (22.7) and Weddington High (22.1).

The contrast with Monroe High, located just 2.3 miles away, is striking: Monroe High ranks 579th in the state with 29.2% Biology proficiency and 32.5% chronic absenteeism. Among surrounding schools, only Union County Early College (ranked 24th) outperforms CATA, placing CATA in a small group of elite, academically focused schools in Union County. CATA also serves its student subgroups exceptionally well, with every reported demographic group performing at or above the 85th percentile statewide. For families exploring high school options in the Monroe area, CATA combines top-tier academics, strong attendance, and consistent results across all student groups.

875

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

13.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

600 Brewer Dr
Monroe, NC 28112-6110

(704) 296-3088

District: Union County Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.1%

Asian:

15.7%

Hispanic:

13.4%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Central Academy of Technology and Arts to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 99th percentile in 2014 → 94th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (96% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of North Carolina high schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school96%

District avg74%

North Carolina avg60%

43^rd of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 6%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 1% (2016) to top 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd of 246Union County Public 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	92.5	43 of 662	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	92.8	54 of 641	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	94.3	33 of 640	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	94.3	36 of 626	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	40 of 621	93.6%	★★★★★
2021	96.5	18 of 594	97.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	12 of 514	97.7%	★★★★★
2016	91.7	1 of 507	99.8%	★★★★★
2015	92.1	5 of 531	99.1%	★★★★★
2014	94.1	3 of 451	99.3%	★★★★★
2013	89.0	7 of 505	98.6%	★★★★★
2012	79.7	4 of 502	99.2%	★★★★★
2011	79.9	27 of 506	94.7%	★★★★★
2010	78.9	23 of 499	95.4%	★★★★★
2009	66.5	103 of 490	79.0%	★★★★☆
2008	71.8	58 of 477	87.8%	★★★★☆
2007	62.8	117 of 453	74.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	96.9	17 of 450	96.2%	★★★★★
2025	97.9	20 of 440	95.5%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	24 of 437	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	22 of 434	94.9%	★★★★★
2022	93.0	37 of 430	91.4%	★★★★★
2021	95.5	8 of 364	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	99.2	4 of 369	98.9%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	86.3	4 of 103	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	86.0	10 of 106	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	90.5	2 of 98	98.0%	★★★★★
2022	88.3	5 of 91	94.5%	★★★★★
2021	90.8	2 of 83	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	90.9	2 of 89	97.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	91.6	41 of 629	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	92.7	46 of 610	92.5%	★★★★★
2024	93.9	32 of 602	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	92.9	38 of 588	93.5%	★★★★★
2022	90.7	53 of 594	91.1%	★★★★★
2021	95.6	7 of 475	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	97.5	2 of 475	99.6%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.3	62 of 407	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	79.6	54 of 412	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	64 of 403	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	40 of 398	89.9%	★★★★★
2021	82.6	10 of 337	97.0%	★★★★★
2019	79.5	26 of 325	92.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	93.9	48 of 474	89.9%	★★★★★
2025	88.1	69 of 462	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	94.4	36 of 454	92.1%	★★★★★
2023	93.4	36 of 449	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	96.2	24 of 436	94.5%	★★★★★
2021	97.2	6 of 370	98.4%	★★★★★
2019	98.3	5 of 354	98.6%	★★★★★
2018	97.9	5 of 340	98.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	91.4	78 of 620	87.4%	★★★★☆
2025	87.2	88 of 606	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	93.5	66 of 613	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	92.4	65 of 597	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	85.4	75 of 544	86.2%	★★★★☆
2021	98.3	7 of 432	98.4%	★★★★★
2019	96.7	8 of 446	98.2%	★★★★★
2018	98.4	3 of 424	99.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	92.6	51 of 624	91.8%	★★★★★
2025	92.5	64 of 601	89.4%	★★★★☆
2024	94.2	46 of 607	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	52 of 602	91.4%	★★★★★
2022	94.8	43 of 585	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	97.0	7 of 481	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	94.6	11 of 488	97.7%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	94.4	11 of 253	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	97.8	3 of 261	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	1 of 249	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	99.5	1 of 195	99.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.1	55 of 551	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	89.5	53 of 542	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	91.3	44 of 553	92.0%	★★★★★
2023	91.2	45 of 537	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	91.5	44 of 534	91.8%	★★★★★
2021	95.2	8 of 439	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	92.9	9 of 444	98.0%	★★★★★

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)

African American (2026)96th percentile+3 vs school

Asian (2026)96th percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)96th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school

White (2026)90th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)90th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)87th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)85th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III98%+29 vs state

English II97%+33 vs state

Biology96%+38 vs state

Math I83%+41 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, March 22, 2015

My son was in CATA for one year. The teachers, staff and guidance counsellors are very helpful. We wish we didn't have to move. Close Quote

Schools Near Central Academy of Technology and Arts

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Academy of Technology and Arts	Public	9-12	600 Brewer Dr	Monroe	28112	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-3088	875	55	15.8	13.8%	500 (57.1%)	74 (8.5%)	117 (13.4%)	137 (15.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (5.1%)	92.5	43^rd of 662 public high schools	93.5%		92.8	54^th of 641 public high schools	91.6%	11	96.4	97.4	82.8	97.7	$9,519	$417	$9,102
Wolfe School	Public	6-12	722 Brewer Drive	Monroe	28112	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 290-1568	109	15	7.1	97.2%	49 (45.0%)	24 (22.0%)	23 (21.1%)	7 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.5%)								(n/a)					$27,287	$2,600	$24,687
Monroe High	Public	9-12	1501 East Sunset Drive	Monroe	28112	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-3130	1,215	71	17.1	99.7%	65 (5.3%)	318 (26.2%)	792 (65.2%)	10 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.3%)	15.8	579^th of 662 public high schools	12.5%		14.6	566^th of 641 public high schools	11.7%	13	29.2	38.7	39.0	38.0	$12,060	$1,381	$10,678
Union County Early College	Public	9-12	4209A Old Charlotte Hwy	Monroe	28110	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 290-1565	340	15	23.4	35.0%	162 (47.6%)	25 (7.4%)	125 (36.8%)	21 (6.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.5%)	93.4	24^th of 662 public high schools	96.4%		95.6	12^th of 641 public high schools	98.1%	12	97.5	97.1	89.5	100.0	$7,707	$125	$7,583
Parkwood High	Public	9-12	3220 Parkwood School Rd	Monroe	28112	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-0154	1,082	64	16.8	43.7%	714 (66.0%)	116 (10.7%)	184 (17.0%)	5 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (5.5%)	57.2	271^st of 662 public high schools	59.1%		66	197^th of 641 public high schools	69.3%	74	60.8	73.3	39.7	79.0	$8,904	$574	$8,330
Sun Valley High	Public	9-12	5211 Old Charlotte Hwy	Monroe	28110	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-3020	1,272	79	16.1	46.1%	589 (46.3%)	300 (23.6%)	289 (22.7%)	24 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (5.3%)	52.4	314^th of 662 public high schools	52.6%		45.1	339^th of 641 public high schools	47.1%	25	49.3	64.9	51.5	80.5	$8,375	$469	$7,906
Porter Ridge High School	Public	9-12	2839 Ridge Road	Indian Trail	28079	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 292-7662	1,809	93	19.4	39.4%	869 (48.0%)	280 (15.5%)	492 (27.2%)	64 (3.5%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	101 (5.6%)	71.8	177^th of 662 public high schools	73.3%		67	189^th of 641 public high schools	70.5%	12	68.2	78.8	60.5	86.8	$7,458	$458	$7,000
Forest Hills High	Public	9-12	701 Old Hwy 74	Marshville	28103	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-3025	973	64	15.1	99.3%	223 (22.9%)	258 (26.5%)	431 (44.3%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (5.4%)	27.1	500^th of 662 public high schools	24.5%		25.4	491^st of 641 public high schools	23.4%	9	41.2	54.2	38.9	50.2	$11,781	$1,553	$10,228
Weddington High	Public	9-12	4901 Monroe-Weddington Road	Matthews	28104	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-6319	1,899	86	22.1	8.1%	1,207 (63.6%)	127 (6.7%)	162 (8.5%)	328 (17.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (3.9%)	90	76^th of 662 public high schools	88.5%		91.4	64^th of 641 public high schools	90.0%	12	90.0	93.9	85.4	94.3	$7,418	$423	$6,995
Piedmont High	Public	9-12	3006 Sikes Mill Road	Monroe	28110	Union County	Union County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 296-3170	1,270	67	18.8	38.3%	822 (64.7%)	102 (8.0%)	291 (22.9%)	27 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (2.1%)	67.8	203^rd of 662 public high schools	69.3%		62.6	215^th of 641 public high schools	66.5%	12	68.5	72.7	55.8	86.0	$8,326	$606	$7,720

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Academy of Technology and Arts

Is Central Academy of Technology and Arts a good school?

Yes. Central Academy of Technology and Arts ranks in the top 6.5% of North Carolina high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Central Academy of Technology and Arts?

Students at Central Academy of Technology and Arts are 57% White, 16% Asian, 13% Hispanic, 8% African American, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Central Academy of Technology and Arts in?

Union County Public Schools

How many students attend Central Academy of Technology and Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 875 students attended Central Academy of Technology and 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.