Average
#1489 of 2,648 schools in NC
Union Elementary
Elementary School · Cleveland County Schools · Shelby, NC
A Cleveland County Schools elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1440 Union Church Road, Shelby, NC 28150
- Math 69% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 47% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Union Elementary score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 19 points since 2020, reaching 58% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Union Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 24Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,500/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Shelby), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$53,027
Median home value
$195,600
Median rent
$793/mo
College educated
24.4%
Homeownership
68.3%
Poverty rate
18%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28150; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Cleveland County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethware ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–4 | Not available | 530 | Compare → |
| Boiling Springs ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 555 | Compare → |
| Casar ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | PK–5 | Not available | 279 | Compare → |
| Grover ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | PK–4 | Not available | 323 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Cleveland County Schools
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #18 of 28
- District spending per student
- $12,540NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Union Elementary is listed in Cleveland County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Union Elementary
Union Elementary is a public elementary school in Shelby, NC, part of Cleveland County Schools, serving approximately 424 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,489 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Union Elementary
What grades does Union Elementary serve?
Union Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Union Elementary?
Union Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 424 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Union Elementary rank in NC?
Union Elementary ranks #1,489 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Union Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Union Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Union Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Union Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Union Elementary a charter school?
No, Union Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Union Elementary a Title I school?
No, Union Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Union Elementary?
99.3% of students at Union Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 424
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Cleveland County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.9%
- Phone
- (704) 476-8250
- Area population (ZIP 28150)
- 26,447
- Area average commute
- 24.2 min
- Area median age
- 47.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28150; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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