Public schools in Harrisburg, NC
5 open public schools with an address in Harrisburg, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,926
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Harrisburg public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Harrisburg, NC: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,926 students, an average of 985 per school. The largest campus is Hickory Ridge High (1,671 students), and the largest elementary school is Hickory Ridge Elementary (927).
Cabarrus County Schools operates the most schools here (4), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16:1, similar to the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 25% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Harrisburg
Elementary schools in Harrisburg
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.C.E. Academy A.C.E. Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 421 | 14.8:1 | |
| Harrisburg Elementary Cabarrus County Schools | PK–05 | 850 | 16:1 | |
| Hickory Ridge Elementary Cabarrus County Schools | KG–05 | 927 | 14.3:1 |
Middle schools in Harrisburg
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Ridge Middle Cabarrus County Schools | 06–08 | 1,057 | 20.9:1 |
High schools in Harrisburg
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Ridge High Cabarrus County Schools | 09–12 | 1,671 | 20.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White37.7%
- Hispanic9.6%
- Black24.4%
- Asian22.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Harrisburg schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,926 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Harrisburg
How many public schools are in Harrisburg, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Harrisburg: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 4,926 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Harrisburg?
Schools with an address in Harrisburg belong to 2 education agencies, led by Cabarrus County Schools (4 schools), A.C.E. Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Harrisburg?
Hickory Ridge High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Harrisburg, with 1,671 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Harrisburg?
Yes. 1 of the 5 public schools in Harrisburg are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including A.C.E. Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Harrisburg schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Harrisburg public schools is 16:1, similar to the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Harrisburg guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities