Which high schools serve Waxhaw, NC?

Marvin Ridge High, Cuthbertson High, and Weddington High are the three primary public high schools serving the Waxhaw, Marvin, and Weddington corridors. Each is part of Union County Public Schools (UCPS).

How are Union County Public Schools ranked?

Union County Public Schools consistently rank among the strongest districts in North Carolina, with Marvin Ridge, Cuthbertson, and Weddington high schools routinely placing in the top tier statewide.

Are there private school options near Waxhaw?

Yes. Families also choose from independent and faith-based schools in southern Union County and across the Charlotte metro for K–12 education.

How is a Waxhaw home assigned to a school?

School assignment is determined by UCPS attendance boundaries for the property address. Boundaries can change, so always confirm assignment directly with the district before purchasing a home.

Schools & Education

A school district families move for.

Union County's top-ranked elementary, middle, and high schools — and the private options worth knowing.

Updated April 29, 2026

For many families, schools are the reason a move to Waxhaw begins in the first place. Union County Public Schools consistently rank among the strongest in North Carolina, with three high schools serving the Waxhaw, Marvin, and Weddington corridors that anchor most luxury community decisions.

Public High Schools

Three pillars. One standard of excellence.

Marvin

Marvin Ridge High

A+ · 28 AP courses · Avg. ACT 24.8

Consistently a top-ranked NC public high school. Strong AP and athletics; serves Marvin, Marvin Creek, Providence Downs South, Chatelaine, and Firethorne. The campus opened in 2007 and has become the academic standard-bearer for southern Union County.

Waxhaw

Cuthbertson High

A+ · 24 AP courses · Avg. ACT 24.2

Modern campus along the Providence corridor; serves Skyecroft, The Club at Longview, Millbridge, Hunter Oaks, Cureton, and Lawson. Known for its STEM emphasis and competitive athletic programs.

Weddington

Weddington High

A+ · 26 AP courses · Avg. ACT 25.1

Historic powerhouse with a long-established academic and athletic reputation; serves Weddington Chase and the Weddington town corridor. Consistently ranks in the top 5% of North Carolina public schools.

Elementary & Middle

The foundation matters.

The elementary and middle schools feeding into Marvin Ridge, Cuthbertson, and Weddington High are themselves among the highest-rated in North Carolina. Marvin Elementary, Kensington Elementary, and Weddington Elementary regularly earn 'A' grades from the state.

Marvin Elementary

A+ rated · Serves Marvin Ridge district

Kensington Elementary

A rated · Serves Cuthbertson district

Weddington Elementary

A+ rated · Serves Weddington district

New Town Elementary

A rated · Serves Millbridge corridor

Private & Independent

Beyond the public system.

Charlotte Catholic High School

Private Catholic

One of the largest Catholic high schools in the Carolinas, with strong academic and athletic programs. Approximately 25 minutes from Waxhaw.

Carmel Christian School

Private Christian

Classical Christian academy serving grades K-12. Strong college-prep curriculum and growing arts program. Approximately 20 minutes from Waxhaw.

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy

Charter / Gifted

Highly competitive K-8 charter for academically gifted students. Admission by lottery and testing. Approximately 30 minutes from Waxhaw.

Beyond the Campus

Tutoring, enrichment, and academic supports.

Mathnasium of Weddington

The most-trafficked math enrichment center for the Cuthbertson and Marvin Ridge feeder pattern; offers AMC-prep tracks.

Carolina Test Prep

Local SAT/ACT prep boutique with a high concentration of Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge, and Charlotte Latin clients; small-group and 1:1 formats.

Code Ninjas — Waxhaw

After-school programming and robotics curriculum, popular with elementary and middle school families.

Independent Learning Specialists

A small but established cohort of independent educational therapists and reading specialists serves the area’s students with diagnosed learning differences.

Higher Education Within Reach

Universities a short commute away.

UNC Charlotte

Forty minutes north — the region’s largest research university and the primary in-state public option for many Waxhaw graduates.

Wingate University

Thirty minutes east in Wingate — a 3,500-student liberal arts university with strong pharmacy, education, and sport sciences programs.

Davidson College

An hour north — a top-15 liberal arts college whose admitted-student events draw a meaningful contingent from Marvin Ridge and Cuthbertson each year.

Queens University of Charlotte

Forty minutes north in the Myers Park neighborhood — a private university with strong nursing and communication programs.

Central Piedmont Community College

Multi-campus community college system with a Levine campus in Matthews offering dual-enrollment seats for area high-schoolers.